Need help please

[Nickboykin]

Okay. I have a 99 ford ranger xlt 3.0 2wd. And today after I pulled up to work and tried to put it in park my truck started backing up. I'm not thinking it's anything to do with the transmission because it rides perfect. But when it's in park the reverse lights are off but it still will go in reverse. I'm having to put it in nuetral and block my tires off to keep it from rolling. My 2 torqs screws are tighten and everything. I haven't checked the cable under truck yet. But the big flat head looking screw that is on the shifter is really loose but I can't tighten it. Any help is appreciated guys.

 

[RonD]

Give the shift cable in the engine bay, back and down to the trans a look.
The sheath around the cable can break, this in essence shortens the cable.

 

[Nickboykin]

so is this an expensive fix and where is that located. is it under the cab of the truck?

 

[RonD]

Don't know what is broken yet?

Google: 1999 Ford Ranger shift cable ebay

That will give you an idea of what it looks like and costs IF(big if) it is the problem.

Cable comes out of the firewall by the back of the engine then loops down under the cab and attaches to the side of the transmission at the shift selector arm.

If you have ever worked on bicycle cable operated brakes this shift cable works the same way.
If either end of the outside sheath is loose or sheath is broken anywhere then cable inside can't get the full travel distance, so it wouldn't be able to pull the trans shift arm all the way into Park, for example.