Gear indicator no longer indicating

[searcherrr]

My father wore out my gear indicator.... the gears still shift n all, but you have to guess which gear you are in.

Whats involved in fixing this and what part do I need and anyone have a part number for it for the 95's ??? LOL 95...looong time ago.

Do I need a spring or something?

[wiswind]

It looks like you need to get into the base of the steering column.
For the CONVENTIONAL (non digital) display, there is a cable that goes from the gear select shaft inside the steering column over to the Gear Select Indicator, which is connected to the bottom of the Speedometer.

I looked around in Alldata for a while to find this.
Looking under Transmission gear select indicator or speedometer was of no help.
I found a diagram under "Shift Interlock Solenoid" service and repair.
The cable to the gear select indicator loops down from the shaft.....and has a thumb wheel adjustment on it to line it up with the gear that you have selected.
I'm guessing,,,,since you only mention that the indicator is not working, that you can still select your gears correctly, so I'm guessing something happened with this cable.
Most likely the issue is at either the Indicator end or the shaft end.

They don't seem to list a part number for the indicator.
I am guessing that....by this time.....you have been up into the steering column.......you have to remove the cover below the steering column and work up from there.
I have never messed with this, so I have no personal experience other than getting near there when I replaced the multi-switch (turn signal).

[searcherrr]

Yes, gears can still be selected.... just not indicated correctly at all.

I really appreciate it Carl. I hate it when they don't list things under common sense terms or don't use keywords and that seems to be a constant theme when looking under car parts.... gotta have their exact terminology or else you find nothing.

I have not dealt with this issue yet as my family is still borrowing the van 330 miles away. When I get it back I'll fiddle with it, but do you think I will have to do anything under the hood with it??? or just in the cabin behind the steering wheel? Parts of the dash have to come off or just the steering column cover?

I'm guessing if something is broken I'll have to look in a junk yard because a lot of these oddball parts are no longer offered by Ford.

I think sometimes people think I'm nuts for keeping the old 95 Windstar going... after all the trouble I've had with it n all... but honestly I don't see a problem with maintaining an older vehicle to save some money.

[wiswind]

This is all inside the steering column.....nothing for this in the engine compartment.
Sadly, I have no personal experience with this as I did not have an issue with it.
This is the first post that I have seen for this problem.
The selector indicator is driven by its own separate cable that connect to the gear select linkage inside the steering column.

If you go to a junk yard......the gear select indicator is mounted on the bottom of the Speedometer. You remove the speedometer and then unclip if from the speedometer.
At least that is what Alldata says.
I would find out if the cable is unhooked or broken first.....and if it can be fixed.

As for us keeping our old vehicles going.
I just recently read that the average cost of a new vehicle sold in the USA is just over $30K.
That is a lot of money to spend every 4 to 8 years.
Think of how that money would look invested in a Roth or college fund, etc over all the years of keeping our old vehicles going.