QuestionWe have a 93 Ford Club Wagon Full size 12 passenger Van. The steering column shift lever became very loose (Lots of play) in it and after I took the cover off to see if something had become loose, now it will not go into park. I can get it to go into 2 drive gears and neutral. As you pull the arm to you, the rod inside does move in and out like a piston. What could be wrong, and how can I fix it?
Answer
shift tube
Hi Daniel:
This is a very common problem on the Ford column shift vehicles. One of 2 things occurs.
1) The bolts holding the shift bracket to the shift tube come loose creating too much free movement for the shift action to be effective. This is a simple repair. Simply lay on the floor looking up under the dash, locate the shift cable still attached to the bracket at the bottom of the steering column (and often 1 bolt still in place) and reinstall the bolt that fell out tightening both securely. These are gold colored 30 torx head bolts that go in from the bottom-up.
2) The shift tube and shaft snap making shifting the car impossible. The parts to be replaced are available at most Ford dealerships, or our company stocks and sells them as well. (http://www.stolenandrecovered.com)
I am enclosing a picture of the shift tube. It has been redesigned to avoid future incidents (at your request)
The procedure is a bit more involved and I can pursue that with you if you find that is the problem. To discover the break, remove the upper steering column cover and look at the top of the column assembly while trying to shift. If it's broken, you'll see it...it'll look like a "broken bone" on the top of the column.
Let me know if you need more help
Good luck
