Sport trac won't start, rolling in park

[Mr.Fork]

Hey everyone. So over the past few days my shifter has felt loose ie I have to pull it down to second to get it in drive then just manually move it back to d. I checked and tightened the tire screws under the column that like to loosen up but it seems like I'll need to adjust the linkage as well.

In any case, after trying to start the truck yesterday, it wouldn't start. Good voltage, no crank, wiper relay is clicking but nothing at the starter relay. After some troubleshooting, I found I could start the truck with a power probe on one pin for the relay so everything downstream of the relay works. I got the truck home and as I was parking, I realized the truck was rolling backward in park.

Is it possible that the truck isn't fully going into park, keeping the ignition from turning over, but still letting me take the key out or do I have 2 seperate issues here?

 

[swshawaii]

Engine Starting Trouble
http://www.mysporttrac.com/shared/msgboard9e.asp?BOARDNAME=MSG&VIEW=1350751

 

[jmullan99]

From my experience in other vehicles, there seems to be a mis-adjustment between the shift lever and transmission. Something slipped. When you say it has been getting "loose" is a further indicator. So now when it shows in P actually in R. Same with 2 actually in D.

Naturally if it is not in the right spot, the neutral safety switch won't be activated and the engine won't start.

Find where it has come loose, align things back up, tighten, you should be good to go. That is, if I am even close.

 

[boominXplorer]

Block the tires and adjust the shift cable under the truck. There either a black or yellow clip that slides up to pop it off. The push the transmission all the way into park and reinstall the clip. Your cable is just worn and now you might have trouble getting all the way down to "1" but with normal driving you dwn't need it.