Hi,
2004 Ranger Shifter Issue.
The only way to start the truck is to turn the key once and put the truck in N
Also the shifter on the column seems to be sloppy.
And one more thing when I put it in park I doesn’t seem to catch and I have to use the parking break.
any is easy?

Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum

Very common issue on Ford Trucks with column shifters, can just be 2 loose screws under the dash
Can also be a broken shift tube inside steering column, harder to fix

Google: ford ranger loose column shifter

Several videos that explain the problems and how to fix each
Same issues on F-series, Explorers, any Ford pretty much in these years

 

i have a 2003 ford ranger and the 2 bolts were loose at the bracket, i tightened them and now the shifter handle is flopping around and not engaging the shift cable bracket for some reason now???