man Aug

My truck will no longer indicate the gear selection.

It will still shift, it is drivable, but the safety break pedal, priot to
shifting is not working.

Visally inspected the linkage, could not see any problems.

Any help will be appreciated, thanks in advance.

Dick

Lawrence

I'm not sure if my truck had the exact same thing or not so what I am putting
here might be of any use to you but I thought it might be worth while to
write. So, I hope I don't waste your time here if it isn't the same as your
problem.
My '99 F150 had that happen to it 2 years ago. I took it to the dealer and
the service manager knew what it was as soon as I told him. He went and
looked to make sure that was it and sure enough he was right. Up under the
dash you will see where there is piece that controls where the pointer points
to. That piece will break sometimes so the pointer can't move properly. The
service manager looked up the part number and quoted me the cost of the
replacement but I don't recall how much it was. Since it wasn't affecting
anything except the visual knowledge of what gear I was in I was too
concerned to get it fixed right that second. I took my truck home and looked
up in under the dash myself. When I saw the part the service manager was
referring to, I figured I could take a crack at fixing it myself. I took a
small tie-wrap and put it around the piece and it has been great ever since.
It has been 2 years now and it hasn't messed up once again.
The part you will look for (if it is like mine) is a small white bracket
mounted to the lower side of the steering column under the dash. You will
have to lay on the floor mat and almost rest your head on the brake pedal to
get a good view. Running through that white bracket is a black piece that
looks like a little wheel with a stem on it. Coming out the end of the little
wheel will look like a brown piece of thick thread that connects to the
pointer. Anyway, that white bracket will break and let the black piece slide
through it a bit. This is why the pointer won't line up correctly any more.
While holding the black piece in the proper position (get someone to watch
the pointer for you) you can fasten a small tie-wrap around the black stem
part to hold the piece in place.
If this is in fact the same problem as you have and/or if you want me to
clarify the part I am referring to, I can try to snap a pic with my digital
camera and email it to you. Hope this all helps.

Cheers,
Lawrence

Larry Suddarth

"Lawrence" <lmcclaf@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4324D0AC.8332CE5A@sympatico.ca...
> I'm not sure if my truck had the exact same thing or not so what I am
> putting
> here might be of any use to you but I thought it might be worth while to
> write. So, I hope I don't waste your time here if it isn't the same as
> your
> problem.
> My '99 F150 had that happen to it 2 years ago. I took it to the dealer and
> the service manager knew what it was as soon as I told him. He went and
> looked to make sure that was it and sure enough he was right. Up under the
> dash you will see where there is piece that controls where the pointer
> points
> to. That piece will break sometimes so the pointer can't move properly.
> The
> service manager looked up the part number and quoted me the cost of the
> replacement but I don't recall how much it was. Since it wasn't affecting
> anything except the visual knowledge of what gear I was in I was too
> concerned to get it fixed right that second. I took my truck home and
> looked
> up in under the dash myself. When I saw the part the service manager was
> referring to, I figured I could take a crack at fixing it myself. I took a
> small tie-wrap and put it around the piece and it has been great ever
> since.
> It has been 2 years now and it hasn't messed up once again.
> The part you will look for (if it is like mine) is a small white bracket
> mounted to the lower side of the steering column under the dash. You will
> have to lay on the floor mat and almost rest your head on the brake pedal
> to
> get a good view. Running through that white bracket is a black piece that
> looks like a little wheel with a stem on it. Coming out the end of the
> little
> wheel will look like a brown piece of thick thread that connects to the
> pointer. Anyway, that white bracket will break and let the black piece
> slide
> through it a bit. This is why the pointer won't line up correctly any
> more.
> While holding the black piece in the proper position (get someone to watch
> the pointer for you) you can fasten a small tie-wrap around the black stem
> part to hold the piece in place.
> If this is in fact the same problem as you have and/or if you want me to
> clarify the part I am referring to, I can try to snap a pic with my
> digital
> camera and email it to you. Hope this all helps.
>
> Cheers,
> Lawrence
>
>
I did something similar. I used one of those clamps that secure the windows
of your house to clamp the plastic piece against something behind the dash.
Don't clamp down too hard. I did have to remove some panels and remove the
ignition lock. Be sure to disconnect the battery. You could activate the air
bags if you don't. The tie that Lawrence talks about sounds interesting. I
have a 1998 F-150. I used one of those Haynes manuals to figure out how to
get in there. From there on it was a jerryrigging job. Good luck.

man Aug

Dear Lawrence,

Your input is greatly appreciated, thanks a bunch, will follow your
instructions and see what can be done, will get back with you. d.



"Lawrence" <lmcclaf@sympatico.ca> wrote in message
news:4324D0AC.8332CE5A@sympatico.ca...
> I'm not sure if my truck had the exact same thing or not so what I am
> putting
> here might be of any use to you but I thought it might be worth while to
> write. So, I hope I don't waste your time here if it isn't the same as
> your
> problem.
> My '99 F150 had that happen to it 2 years ago. I took it to the dealer and
> the service manager knew what it was as soon as I told him. He went and
> looked to make sure that was it and sure enough he was right. Up under the
> dash you will see where there is piece that controls where the pointer
> points
> to. That piece will break sometimes so the pointer can't move properly.
> The
> service manager looked up the part number and quoted me the cost of the
> replacement but I don't recall how much it was. Since it wasn't affecting
> anything except the visual knowledge of what gear I was in I was too
> concerned to get it fixed right that second. I took my truck home and
> looked
> up in under the dash myself. When I saw the part the service manager was
> referring to, I figured I could take a crack at fixing it myself. I took a
> small tie-wrap and put it around the piece and it has been great ever
> since.
> It has been 2 years now and it hasn't messed up once again.
> The part you will look for (if it is like mine) is a small white bracket
> mounted to the lower side of the steering column under the dash. You will
> have to lay on the floor mat and almost rest your head on the brake pedal
> to
> get a good view. Running through that white bracket is a black piece that
> looks like a little wheel with a stem on it. Coming out the end of the
> little
> wheel will look like a brown piece of thick thread that connects to the
> pointer. Anyway, that white bracket will break and let the black piece
> slide
> through it a bit. This is why the pointer won't line up correctly any
> more.
> While holding the black piece in the proper position (get someone to watch
> the pointer for you) you can fasten a small tie-wrap around the black stem
> part to hold the piece in place.
> If this is in fact the same problem as you have and/or if you want me to
> clarify the part I am referring to, I can try to snap a pic with my
> digital
> camera and email it to you. Hope this all helps.
>
> Cheers,
> Lawrence
>
>