# Ford pickup shifter problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [September 30, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442 "2014-09-30T19:20:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Tbird251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@Tbird251](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tbird251)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 7:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442/1 "2014-09-30T19:20:39Z")

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I haave an 04 ford 150 super crew truck with 4 speed trans and 3.4 engine. The gear shift sometimes won’t start in park and has slack in movement . Starts in neutral but has some slack in it. I can’t determine where the slack is but sure it relates tt no park start. Can anyone tell me where the safety swith is and is this a common problem with this truck?  
thanks, LEE

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**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/1/d/1d47c66a543aa6c5a7873bb2320858f978ff52ed.png) [@system](https://community.cartalk.com/u/system)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 8:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442/2 "2014-09-30T20:02:38Z")

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The first place I would check is the bottom of the steering column where you should find the arm that moves the shifter cable. Chances are the torx bolts for the arm are loose.

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**Author:** ![ken\_green](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/ken_green/32/816_2.png) [@ken\_green](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ken_green)\
**Post date:** [September 30, 2014, 8:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442/3 "2014-09-30T20:26:49Z")

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It could not have a 3.4 engine so I can’t tell if it’s the old body style , called ‘‘heritage’’ in 04…or the new body style.  
Last eight digits of the vin and I can decode.

But check the lever as suggested. plus there could be breakage inside the column shif tube as well.

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**Author:** ![Tbird251](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@Tbird251](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tbird251)\
**Post date:** [October 1, 2014, 5:46pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/ford-pickup-shifter-problem/87442/4 "2014-10-01T17:46:47Z")

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Thanks Pete and Ken and the engine size is 5.4. I dunno where in the hell the figure 34 came in . I haven’t owned a truck engine that small in my life.  
LEE