Shift lever / neutral safety switch?

[professor229]

Had some time this morning so I thought I would run this one by everyone to see if someone else has had this issue... When I bought the 2004 Ranger the gal that used it as a daily driver showed me the two "goofy" things wrong with it. One was the fan for the heater that is a common problem..... and I have already addressed that... but then she said that once in awhile, the Ranger would not start because the gear shift lever was not shoved hard enough into park..... Now, I don't know if she meant that there was a no start situation or perhaps she meant that the starter motor would not turn.... Whatever.... I have never experienced this yet but haven't started the Ranger more than five times because it is a work in progress.... but I have seen this on other vehicles as well... Is it a neutral safety switch problem with the gear shift lever not being fully in park? She just told me that if it happens to simply push the lever a little harder into its park position and there isn't an issue.... If it is a neutral safety switch, where would this one be located? Thanks for any advice / help / suggestions....

 

[RonD]

Neutral safety switch is called the DTR sensor in 2004, well 1995 to 2011
Its on the shift rod on drivers side of transmission, has several wires, also does Reverse Lights

But the problem is more likely the Column shifter in the cab is loose so cable is not tight, a common issue on all Ford trucks with a column shifter

Google: Ford Ranger loose column shifter

There are a few things under the dash to check

 

[pjtoledo]

there is an adjustment where the shifter cable goes thru a bracket on the transmission.
it was covered in a post recently.
also as RonD stated worn bushings & stuff in the column will prevent the cable from pushing and pulling the cable it's full distance.

 

[pjtoledo]

this is from a 95 Taurus, the Ranger is similar.
shows the bushings that can wear. the housing the red arrows are on rotates with the gearshift selector.
your's might not have the big brown thing in the middle.