Help with ID of metal pin under driver’s side dash

[rangerinthewild]

Was starting to work under the steering wheel to adjust the auto transmission gear indicator. Anyway … I removed the plastic panel, and then was removing the metal panel under the plastic one, and all of a sudden a metal pin dropped down onto the floor mat.

I have no idea where this pin came from. Everything seems to work - steering, shifting into gear, etc.

Have uploaded a pic of the pin. Any ideas?

 

[rangerinthewild]

Was starting to work under the steering wheel to adjust the auto transmission gear indicator. Anyway … I removed the plastic panel, and then was removing the metal panel under the plastic one, and all of a sudden a metal pin dropped down onto the floor mat.

I have no idea where this pin came from. Everything seems to work - steering, shifting into gear, etc.

Have uploaded a pic of the pin. Any ideas?

The vehicle is a 2001 Ranger XLT. 3.0L. Auto trans.

 

[Curious Hound]

It's possible that it is left from someone working in the truck previously. However, here is a similar Ford steering column and a few places to look.

Most likely place, the shifter handl pivot. But I would expect big problems if that's not installed.

Next is underneath the column, mear the top. Here...

And here.

Then, 2 more pins near the bottom end of the column.

 

[rangerinthewild]

“It's possible that it is left from someone working in the truck previously.”

Yeah, maybe they lost this one and replaced it. I hope so. Like I said, everything seems to work OK.

I appreciate the pics very much. I’ll take a gander and see what I can find.