Help needed to diagnose an electrical problem

[pentode]

I believe the transmission is supposed to stay in first if first is manually selected.

Now the good news. There is no transmission wiring in the steering column. The column shifter moves a flexible mechanical cable that goes down to the shift lever on the side of the transmission. The electrical switch assembly for PRND21 is mounted at the shift lever on the transmission case.

Of course, yes, I should have remembered that as I had mine apart a few months ago.

Would it be one of these two? I don't think I disconnected and sprayed them.

I would check and clean both of those, the one on the lever should be the position selector sensor.