03 ranger shifter and obdii issues

[Sdude2008]

2003 ranger xlt 222k. yesterday I noticed my gear selector pointer is off by almost a gear. In park the pointer is almost at the R etc... Also when testing it out thru all the gears I found I am missing one. I can go from Park and get reverse, then to neutral then drive, but then I only have one more after that. So I'm not sure if 2 or 1 is missing, probably 1. D drives normally and the truck does shift thru all gears automatically so the problem is just manually shifting.
Any ideas where I should start?

Also I popped a cel so I went to check it with my tester and it seems the tester is getting no power from the connector and doesn't turn on. I checked the tester in my other car and it works fine.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[RonD]

The column shifter being loose on Ford trucks is a common issue.

Google: Ford loose column shifter

Rangers thru F-350s all use the same shifter so all had the same issues, usually "just" loose screws under the dash, but read the posts and look at the videos

Good read here on access: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/Fall2009/gear_indicator.shtml


The Data Link Connector(Ford calls it DLC, we call it OBD2 port) is powered by the cigarette lighter/AUX power port fuse, usually 20 amp.

So look for that fuse, I don't have an '03 cab fuse box diagram

 

[Sdude2008]

Thanks it was the fuse, duh... Fuse #17 I was checking #29 for some reason.

Found this looks like this is my problem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqiDy_Po2M

Thank you.

 

[RonD]

Good video on that fix, thanks for posting the link.

Glad it was just the fuse for the ODB2 port

 

[Sdude2008]

So it turns out that wasn't my problem. Both the bolts are tight yet I have the same symptoms. It's hard to see up under there but it looks like the whole piece those bolts attach to is loose.

Maybe this is it. I'll give this a try tomorrow.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMd6jBLfta0

Any other ideas? Thanks.

 

[RonD]

Yes, shift "rail" or shift tube is also a common problem.

Also run your hand down the shift cable where it exits firewall and bends around to go down to transmission.
The Sheath on the cable can split or break so you can't get full range on the cable any more.

 

[Sdude2008]

I'm going to drop the column to see if it's just the bushings since they cost about $10 and the whole assembly is about $40.
Thanks.

 

[don4331]

If you were getting all gears/shifter wasn't loose; I have another one for you...

Coming off the shifter is a tube over a thin wire with a loop on it that connects to the slider in the dash which indicates gear position. The tube has an adjuster to move the needle in the dash to the correct position (aka take up manufacturing tolerances). If the knob is out of adjustment (or worse, the little plastic clips which hold it in are broke), then it doesn't read correct. If it is that simple, then just a few turns gets it reading correct (over replacing the little plastic tabs..)

I got away with this simple fix when I had to correct the shifter indicator to pass safety.

 

[Sdude2008]

Wasn't getting all gears. Found one of the bushing u brackets was broken, the farthest one. Swapped them for now and it made the tube tighter so all gears came back. Will replace u bracket when I get time. Have had to replace that whole shift indicator unit due to a broken wire in the past. A real pita.
Thanks.