97 explorer shifter column problems

[Jacob Wittrock]

So, to make a long story short.. I have a 97 explorer, xlt 4.0 dohc 4x4. Now with that out of the way, my car isn't wanting to go into park or drive.. To further explain, it will indicate that it is in fact in park, yet will either roll backwards like it's not in gear, or go into reverse. Before the problem got worse, you could just take it back out of park and then more forcefully slam it into park and it would go into park. Now however, it will not go into park at all, you can't start it when the indicator says "park" but you can take the key out. I've been having too start it in nutural and then do a very simular thing (ramming) it into drive and about 1out of 4 tries gets it into drive. And this has just started happening as far as the "drive" gear in conserned. As well as it doesn't want to go into reverse either. And there is no way you're going to get it too first or second gear. So my question is, am I on the right track to think it may be the linkage? Or the (much less likely) valve body? Any advice/knowledge is appreciated!

 

[SWIGIN]

There are threads in the sticky section about the plate the shift cable goes too coming loose and how to fix it.

 

[XLTrunner]

X2. Much has been discussed about the two bolts coming loose (or, falling out) up under the dash.

 

[Spuddy]

Here you go...

Picture

I recently had this same problem but found this website and it told me exactly what to find and how to fix it. So I thought I would add a photo to help others with this problem

Its not easy to get under there and fix it but it can be done, also I found it easier to put the shifter in neutral to help align the two bolts. Hope this helps