Can't get it to go into park

[RodBarnes]

Recently, I've been unable to move the shift lever into Park. It goes into all the others R, N, D, 2, 1 but my attempts to move it into Park it just won't go. Or, will barely, sometimes, if I really work at it but mostly not. It has always been that the needle is not aligned exactly with the letters on the indicator (lying slightly to the right of each) and Park always seemed less than -- well, decisive.

I took a look at the linkage underneath and there is nothing that is obviously an issue (photo) so, whatever it is, seems to be internal. With it "in" Park, I can manually move the shift lever about 5-10° and that moves the need from near R to near P.

The truck has 75k miles on it, been a great vehicle with very few issues. I drive it less than 5k a year and use it for plowing in the winter. Maybe the plowing (with all the forward and reverse) aggravated an existing condition.

 

[dvdswan]

Actually, this looks like it shifted...

 

[RodBarnes]

Can you tell me how you think it has shifted? I see two bolts -- the one you circled and a similar one on the other side -- that appear to secure the black case to the side of the transmission. (I assume this case is the electrical sensors for positioning?) Does it look like that entire case has shifter or something?

I'll take another look...

 

[Curious Hound]

Can you tell me how you think it has shifted? I see two bolts -- the one you circled and a similar one on the other side -- that appear to secure the black case to the side of the transmission. (I assume this case is the electrical sensors for positioning?) Does it look like that entire case has shifter or something?

I'll take another look...

I think what he's referring to is the crescent moon-shaped clean spot around the bottom half of the bolt head. That makes it appear as if that bolt head has slipped in the upward direction.

I'm not familiar with that transmission. So I have no answers on this. It just appears to be a piece of evidence.

 

[2011Supercab]

Actually, this looks like it shifted...

That little bit of movement is on the safety neutral switch, may make it difficult to start, but shouldn't affect moving the shift lever into park.

 

[RodBarnes]

Took another look: Those two bolts were tight and only secure the black case (sensors?) to the side of the transmission.

 

[RodBarnes]

Just circling back on this (realized I never shared the resolution): It was the clamp on the steering column. It had come loose and was allowing the shifting rod to float around and get misaligned when shifting. After tightening that back down, no issues.