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Tom_G
Member
Aloha all!
99 Ranger XLT 4WD w/extended half cab.
For quite a while, she's been particular about going into Park. I'd think she was, but she wouldn't let me take the key out, so I'd fiddle about with the gearshift until we came to an accommodation.
Last night, when I came home and parked, the gearshift felt odd. Soft, maybe, like it wasn't hitting that last "click". But the key came out, so I didn't worry about it, figured it was just me.
This morning, when I went to start her, the lights and fan and dials all came on, but the starter didn't turn over. There was a bit of a whirring sound, but nothing like the obnoxious squeal of a starter with a disengaged solenoid. After a few more tries, taking out and reinserting the key, I decided it must be a bad battery. No worries, I have a power bank for such things, so I reached to pop the hood, and grabbed the emergency brake release by mistake.
The truck started rolling out of the carport! I stomped the brakes, but they had no effect, so I re-engaged the parking brake. At that point I realized the ignition wasn't working because she wasn't in Park, so I started fiddling about with the gearshift again. Still, no matter how I shifted and jiggled, I couldn't get it into Park. But, oddly, I could remove the key.
Also, why didn't the brakes work? I know that power brakes require a running engine to work properly, but they should definitely still function with the the motor off!
What's going on?
Mahalo!
99 Ranger XLT 4WD w/extended half cab.
For quite a while, she's been particular about going into Park. I'd think she was, but she wouldn't let me take the key out, so I'd fiddle about with the gearshift until we came to an accommodation.
Last night, when I came home and parked, the gearshift felt odd. Soft, maybe, like it wasn't hitting that last "click". But the key came out, so I didn't worry about it, figured it was just me.
This morning, when I went to start her, the lights and fan and dials all came on, but the starter didn't turn over. There was a bit of a whirring sound, but nothing like the obnoxious squeal of a starter with a disengaged solenoid. After a few more tries, taking out and reinserting the key, I decided it must be a bad battery. No worries, I have a power bank for such things, so I reached to pop the hood, and grabbed the emergency brake release by mistake.
The truck started rolling out of the carport! I stomped the brakes, but they had no effect, so I re-engaged the parking brake. At that point I realized the ignition wasn't working because she wasn't in Park, so I started fiddling about with the gearshift again. Still, no matter how I shifted and jiggled, I couldn't get it into Park. But, oddly, I could remove the key.
Also, why didn't the brakes work? I know that power brakes require a running engine to work properly, but they should definitely still function with the the motor off!
What's going on?
Mahalo!
