Parking and taking the keys out-issue

[Brownpsu78]

Bybshifts I mean gear selection at the steering wheel
Not transmission actually shifting gear.

 

[CDW6212R]

I know how that feels. My trucks have been mail delivery vehicles, I shift from park to drive about 50 times a day. I can tell when the shifter is becoming very sloppy. My "new" 98 a got last year, after 11 months of work, is quite sloppy to shift. I did the shifter work on my 99 before I ever used it for work, and it still shifts very well after 75k miles.

My other two trucks have all original parts, they need the work done on them soon. Hopefully others will read this and get active with upgrading their trucks too.

 

[koda2000]

No doubt about it. Owning old vehicles requires vigilance and regular repairs. My daughter reported a strange noise on her 2000 Mountaineer this past Sunday. It stopped once the engine reached full operating temp. It sounded like a metal engine fan hitting the radiator. As I knew that couldn't be the case (plastic engine fan) I deduced it was probably related to the exhaust system. Sure enough a heat shield had broken loose. I fixed it with a radiator hose clamp.

Now I have disappearing coolant on my '01 ST. The other day I noticed the TEMP gauge going up and down and erratic heat. Checked the radiator's coolant level and had to add 1/2 gal plus. It doesn't seem to leak much at this time and I've never seen it drip a drop on my concrete driveway. I have to keep an eye on it, as it does not draw coolant from the reservoir anymore, so the radiator will get low eventually (new radiator, cap, thermostat and hoses). Suspects are the dreaded SOHC lower thermostat housing or the water pump. I've noticed a small drip trail on the lower radiator hose.

Tip: Don't trust the coolant level as indicated by you reservoir, as the cooling system will suck air from a leak source and your radiator level can get low w/out you knowing you have a leak. Periodically remove the radiator cap (when the system is cool) and make sure your radiator is full.