2001 F150 linkage

[pAAt]

My 2001 F150 automatic just started to shift funny at the column indicator. Park is reverse now and 1st gear is off the chart. Everything works fine yet, but I would like to get it back to normal. I'm thinking it's in the column and not tranny linkage. Anyone know if this is an easy fix or should I wait till spring (12 degrees here now ). It's never seen salt yet and it's about time to put it in storage anyway. Thanks VFF members

[Mitch]

I love modern car questions

Is your shifter loose and floppy, play?

[Mitch]

Well there is an adjustment down at the trans lever, but with that being said they usually don't go out of position without something else wearing. If you have no extra free play play in your shift handle when moving it up and down then i would check below. A common Ford issue is the shift tube which is up top on the column. When these start to wear it gives you excess play in the shifter which throws off your adjustment. On the back side of this shift tube shown below are 2 torx bolts which hold the shifter cable to the assy. Sometimes they loosen up but this can be seen from under the dash looking up. This again will give you excess play also

For that issue you can get this dorman kit for 27.00 which is fairly easy to put in..

from your description of no play, none of this may come into being the problem

[pAAt]

Modern car !! No the shifter is solid with no play.

[Mitch]

When i say play i mean play like in a steering box. movement with no resistance

[pAAt]

I'll check the play out a little better again later. It's about time for me to jump in the tractor again till 9 or so. I feel as if I could sleep another 8 hours ! This work thing is really over rated Mitch. I don't know how you do it all year long, Pat

[pAAt]

Mitch, there is about 3/16 free play at the indicator pointer. I had a little extra time this morning. The farmers are not here yet, so I picked up about 20 bushels of corn I spilled yesterday. Squirrels will be well fed this winter.

[Mitch]

OK well look elsewhere then

[pAAt]

Looks like a summer project. Thanks Mitch.

[CarlG]

Back in the olden days, I had a '71 F100, with 3-on-the-tree + OD. When I swapped out engines (360 to 429), I also installed a C-6. Of course the column had no markers for this tranny, so I trained myself to "count the clicks" to determine what gear I was in. (I still catch myself doing that with my modern SUVs.) My son still has that pickup, and it now has the "correct" column, so problem solved.

[pAAt]

Carl, how was that OD ? A pull out knob for the rear axle ? Pat

[CarlG]

It was the usual BW OD that was in the tail cone of the tranny, not in the rear end. The OD went away when the C-6 went in.

[pAAt]

Carl, I had a 65 galaxy w/352 motor 3 on the tree with a pull knob for over drive. I thought that was in the rear end, but not sure at all now. I guess I'd like to know now, so someday I don't look really stupider. Anyone ? Pat P.S.- I got a little over 20 miles to the gallon with that car.

[Tom Wesenberg]

Carl, I had a 65 galaxy w/352 motor 3 on the tree with a pull knob for over drive. I thought that was in the rear end, but not sure at all now. I guess I'd like to know now, so someday I don't look really stupider. Anyone ? Pat P.S.- I got a little over 20 miles to the gallon with that car.

I've only seen Ford cars with the overdrive at the rear of the tranny.
I had a 62 Chevy with 283 and overdrive, but never could get over 18 MPG, otherwise I really liked the car.

[pAAt]

I never burnt rubber with mine !! That's probably why your called lead foot Tom !

[CarlG]

My '53 Merc had an overdrive in it. Was the same OD as Studebaker used. That's where I got my spare parts for my Merc OD.

[pAAt]

Carl, don't let Tom (Shhhhh.) hear you were using Studebaker parts on a Merc ! He's looking for parts now and wonders where they all went..