Replace 2005 Ford Explorer Sport Trac Park and Neutral Safety Switch Transmission Sensor 

So I have to tell you that this post was immeasurably helpful to me. I had a starter stop working. Tested all fuses and wires and relays. And yes the starter was quite old and crusty, so I pulled it out... but a bolt snapped off and I had to go to a shop with a lift to get that taken out of the trans housing. Got the new starter mounted by the guys who drilled the bolt out. They said they had to disassemble stuff to get a drill in there, but I guess they just had no clue how to adjust the shifting trouble upon reassembly. Got the Exploder home and it just wasn't right. Shifting was very sloppy. The gears were all screwed up, sometimes the starter wouldn't work, it refused to start in neutral without tweaking the shift lever, and reverse did not engage well. I wasn't encouraged to return it to that shop so I just got on it myself. But no matter how I adjusted the cable, it was still a mess. Then I watched your video by chance on the neutral safety switch being adjustable! "Ah ha," I thought. The shop may be did mess with that, and not only does that control your start situation, it might also provides the fluid valves station clicks for the shift lever. So I put the transmission in neutral and adjusted the switch bit by bit until the engine started in neutral, and locked it down And wow! All the gears were lined up properly again too. ( You can not drive with the lever not in the right spots or you will ruined the transmisdion quickly. ) But I was baffled on how to reset the right positions until your video put the right piece in my mind I could not have guessed the clicks the lever made between gears were part of the neutral safety switch. So that switch's proper adjustment is much more important than just for starting in neutral or park. It's also the valve controller for the gears. Thanks a million for giving me the simple solution in minutes it took me all day to research to solve!

For initial adjustment, you’re supposed to shift the transmission into neutral, then put the sensor on with the marks as aligned as you can, then put the mounting bolts on, do fine adjustment to align the marks on the sensor body & collar. Then final install.

Glad u figured out what the actual problem was, I was thinking the same thing as soon as the truck still didn’t start knew that’s why the spacing was there for the adjustment

Your video was very helpful. I installed one on a Ford Ranger and all went well. Thank you! 👽

Thanks. Showed my boyfriend up when I told him put in neutral to start and then explained the most likely issue😊

Glad you posted this. My sport tracs engine light just came on and the code reads transmission range sensor.

Ill try it in the morning Thanks for giving me hope

Thanks for the video. On my ranger I removed the module since it was causing my reverse lights not to work. Before plunking down for a new one, I figured there was nothing to lose by trying to fix the old one. It's already broke, so no harm! I drilled out the rivets (aluminum, easy) and sure enough one of the wiper contacts fell out of the wiper arm. I reinstalled it and drilled for a cross pin to retain the contact since the plastic bit that originally did the job had worn or broken. Sure enough it worked perfectly after going back together with some new rivets (could have used small screws and nuts). Thought I'd share for someone else - this is a very simple part inside, there's no harm in opening it and trying to fix it if the alternative is replacing it!

New part isn't defective, you're adjusting it improperly. when you install the new unit put in the 2 screws loosely, put the arm for the shifter on the shaft without the nut, put it in neutral, Then take the arm off and look if the line that says neutral and the line on the white piece that goes around the shaft lines up and adjust accordingly. That is how you adjust it

Good video but the trans should be placed in neutral first and the marks on the switch carefully lined up before installing it. All you have to do then is attach the linkage, plug it in, and Bob's your uncle!

This one feels adventurous!

That was interesting. thanks

For anyone about to do this the big one is 15 mm in a smaller one is 8 mm. If you have four-wheel-drive you will need wrenches because sockets won't fit with the front drive shaft. If your shifter seems hard to shift replace this. Mine was stiff for the first four months I owned it and then I lost backup camera and reverse lights. I replace this and now it shifts easily. Be sure to spray WD-40 on the big nut before you even attempt this. Also need WD-40 on the shaft so that the sensor will slide off. I ended up having to break mine and using channel locks to get the plastic insert off the shaft

thanks

My 2004 Mazda B4000 automatic had same problem. I replaced the safety switch but still had a no start. It was the starter, when truck was up to operating temp won’t start. I replaced the starter and it fixed the no start . Old starter had over 200,000 miles on it.

What are the screws that you referenced at the beginning that happened to already be tight?

Can a real od switch stop sending a singel to the selinoid with out having any other symptoms.

So my truck starts but the shifter floats between reverse, neutral, and drive and won’t catch. How do I fix that?

I'm having that issue but my problem is what ever you were saying about those screws under the dash. What is that and how do I fix it?

Hey thanks for the video, I have a question. So I got it to start in park, and I can get it to switch to reverse, neutral, or drive. The thing is I can’t get it back to park without moving the lever back by hand under the car. Any idea on why? Thanks, any help is appreciated

My Manuel lever spins now because it was so tight to get that first nut off,if it spins did it just come out of place?do you know?

Bien

It happened to me On my F150 2001 it was the one on the steering wheel

Is that 5r55s?, I have issues after rebuild, something from D to R doesn't not engage. I put D-P-R. Only I have problem with R when i put it from D

I'm going to buy an 03 sport Trac tomorrow one owner 117000 actual miles on it they said it wouldn't go into reverse but it shifts out good as you get it going but you couldn't put it in reverse it wouldn't go is very clean is run but when you put it in drive it shifts out just like it's supposed to I'm thinking rain selector switch on it I haven't checked the fluid stuff on it going back tomorrow to get it but worse comes to worse I've got another sport Trac that I'm pulling motor out of it and putting another sport Trac and it's got a good transmission if I have to I will use it

Why don’t y’all give bolt size

My truck won't crank won't start even after messing with the shifter. When I do turn the key, the emergency/park brake light comes on with each turn. What could it be?

The middle nut bolt is seized and i tried loosening it to replace the sensor but the whole thing just spins. The nut wont come loose. Im guessing something is going on internal. Whats going on, what should i do next.

Would this be the cause of me getting a p0705 code ? And the O/D light come on .. also the dash saying trans fault?

Understood the whole idea. Question: Why bother reinstalling the lever? - Set the shifter in neutral, remove the lever nut, set the alignment marks in neutral, no lever, just start the engine. No crank? Then re-adjust. Finally, install the lever. Thank you for NOT taking out the shifter line from the lever. Let's repeat: Just loosen the two bolts on the OLD P/N Sw - Transm Range adjust and try starting before buyig a new unit. So basic. How it went under the periscope?

If you see the part cost $70.00 and don't pretend that finding one for $35.00 made in China will do the same as the original part.

Jesus there is alot of rust don't get that rust here in the desert