Removed and Replaced Steering Wheel & Engine Won't Start Now

[Pat Crash]

I have a 1971 F100 -360 Automatic.

I decided that I wanted to fix my truck to make the shift indicator light up. I ordered the bulb from LMC Truck.

After removing the steering wheel and searching for hours, I could not find a slot for the bulb. I looked on this site and everyone said that this year's shift indicator did not light up (I wonder why LMC Truck is selling light bulbs for this year and model?)

I carefully replace the steering wheel and everything seemed to have been put back in order. Engine won't start now. Light are all working so I don't think it's the battery. Engine started with no problem yesterday.

I have the engine in park when trying to start it. Hate to rip off the steering wheel again. Anyone have any idea as to why it won't start?

[impappy]

Lower on the column there is a pin that sticks out from the column that engages a switch when the truck is in park. If the switch isnt making contact the truck wont start. it sounds as though a wire became disconnected from the switch or the pin fell out of the column.

[michael69]

Yea it sounds like you may have move the neutral safety switch out of adjustment. Try putting truck in neutral and see if it cranks or while wiggling the shifter back and forth while turning switch over.

[fordman]

as stated above its out of adjustment. grab the shifter and push it up as you try to start the engine. that will tell you if its just out of adjustment. it should start doing that.

[Pat Crash]

I tried these things with no luck. I removed the steering wheel again trying to find the neutral safety switch. Couldn't find it so I looked at the bottom of the steering column and I believe I found it (see pic below). I put downward pressure on the shifter to line it all up (as when I remove the steering wheel the shift pops out) to see if there is a piece that will push the lever on the neutral safety switch back and forth, but I don't see anything. Is there a piece that is missing that pushes the switch back and forth. Should the black knob on the switch be all the way to the right or left when trying to start the engine. I'm stuck at this point.

[Calfdemon]

Yes, there is a metal tab that normally sticks up and rests against the neutral safety switch. It is this tab that moves the switch when you shift between the gears. It breaks VERY EASILY. I did the exact same thing when I was messing with my steering column as well.

You are going to need to get another one from a pick a part or somewhere if you want your neutral safety switch to work (it also handles your reverse lights). Or you can wire around it and disable the switch in the meantime or unscrew it and let it hang and manually hold it in place to start your vehicle (which is what I did till I found a replacement). Once you have the truck started, you dont need to hold it in place any more. I found a quick video of a guy trying to figure out what is wrong with his (on a 73 which is still setup the same), but he uses the same starting method and the video shows the tab you are missing at 3:30 of the video. You can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AdIqRl-5cNo

The tab is attached to a half circle tension piece that fits around the shifter. On the top of the steering column right in front of the switch you have pictured, you will see (use a mirror) a hole in the shaft. That is where the piece sits with the tab sticking out. Here is the part you need in the Dennis Carpenter catalog: http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb.dll ... Z50000024D

You will need to pop the old one off with a flathead screwdriver, and then pop the new one on. It can be a pain, but I have done it 3 times now. Dont ask why...

[Pat Crash]

Calfdemon - you are dead on. I broke off the exact piece that you were talking about. Thank you for the referral to get the piece. I would have spent hours, even days hunting that down.

Warning to anyone trying to remove the piece just behind the steering wheel. The shifter will push upward and can very well bust the piece that I did - or maybe I just pulled on it too hard - I don't know at this point. Just proceed with caution.

I am going to unbolt the nuetral safety switch from the column (for now) so I can start it when needed without having to reach too far. Then when the piece comes in - I will pop it off with a flathead like you said.

Thank you.

[Calfdemon]

Yeah, its very easy to break... I broke one in a similar manner that you did, and then I broke another trying to put a replacement on. I just went to the pick a part and pulled a few of them off some of the bumps in the boneyard. I have about 2 or 3 extras for future use... . I think they sold them to me for $1 each.

Anyway, its a pain to pop off the old broken clip. Use a flathead screwdriver that you dont care about and if I remember correctly, I had my truck in Reverse or Drive so I could get it popped off. I used a little handheld mirror to try and see what I was doing. Getting the new one on is easier than getting the old one off. But be careful that you dont snap the new one when doing it (also had it in one of the middle gears to pop it on).

[Pat Crash]

Thanks for the advice. I'm gonna order 3 of them just in case I break a couple of them in the process.

[Pat Crash]

Tired!

Pulled off the old one in less than 30 seconds. I have spent 6 hours tonight trying to get the new one on. It was so close a couple of times, but the 2nd side is always barely off. And not it is loosing its original shape and poping off easily. This is a pain.

Should I just remove the steering column at this point. I will be needing to replace the turn signal switch soon anyway.

Is removing the steering column a bad idea. I just am not sure at this point if I can get this to work.

[fordman]

you can drop it donw onto the seat to get some room up in there. i dont know if i would pull it all the way out though.

[Calfdemon]

I am sure you are aware of this since its pretty obvious from looking at the new part, but there is a center tab that needs to line up with an indention in the column. If this little tab is not lined up with the indention, the two side "arms" that wrap around the selector will not reach all the way to where they need to go and their proper indentions.

I found that when I lined up one side first and then tried to pop in the other side, I was having similar problems like you are describing because the center tab was not lining up correctly. When I lined up the center first and then pressed down on each side at the same time, I was able to get it popped on easier. Easier is probably not the proper term as there was nothing easy about it, but I got it done more than once and it did not take me longer than several minutes each time. But it was a lot of finger pressure and I believe I used a screwdriver or some other sturdy metal tool to "help" it along and get it to pop into place.

The little center tab is key though... And again, put the gear selector into one of the middle settings (drive or neutral area) to get that center tab up near the top so you can get it on easier.

[Pat Crash]

Well, its fixed. Just wanted to tell everyone about my experience so the next person does not take 6 hours to replace this part.

The other night, I thought I had the part on at least 5 different times. When I went to start the motor in park or neutral, the truck would not start. So I thought that I didn't have it on right or tight enough. So I kept messing with it and it kept on popping off of the steering column. It was really frustrating.

I figured out that I had the clip on right, but that I needed to align the neutral safety switch. So I just pushed the black knob that protrudes from the neutral safety switch (to the right in my case) and the problem was solved. I just gets a little out of alignment (kind of like the advice that I received at the beginning of the thread). Also, I think the best way to put it on is to align the center hole first, then apply even pressure to pop both sides in.

Thank you for your help. Now the reverse lights are working again, and I don't have to manually manipulate the neutral safety switch to get it started. Double thank you.

[Calfdemon]

Glad to see that you got it fixed, now we can officially welcome you to the site!! Now that you got your feet wet with getting that problem solved, put up some pictures of your truck!! We all love to see another bump, and I especially have a thing for bumps that are green!