Truck wouldn't start

Hi,

This is the first time I've experienced this.

I went out and tried to start the truck and it just turned over really fast like normal but didn't fire up, and after a few seconds stopped turning over like it was done the timed cycle and gave up.

I tried 2 more times and same thing.

Then I turned the key to on but not start, and cycled the gear shifter down and then back to park.

Turned the key to start and it fired right up.

Thanks!

 

It's not reading Park as Park, until you cycle shift lever around & back. What about in N?

 

Is your shifter plastic catching??
Due to the heat mine are curling up and catch on the shifter's edges...

 

I just went out and it started fine in P 3 times. Then it started fine in N. Then again in P.

Thanks!

 

I will pay more attention to it in the future when I put it in park. Thanks for letting me now that.

That's the theory I have, that it just may not have been fully in park. I had moved the truck at around 5pm so it was not the heat of the day but it was just after the heat of the day and had been sitting in the sun. But it wasn't too hot yesterday here.

Thanks!

 

Ford had a prob with column shift auto trucks in the 70s, P/N interlock switch would get sloppy. Would read as P on column indicator, start it up & it goes into R almost immediately...almost killed my old man who was standing with the door open after cranking the engine over. Or it wouldn't recognize P, & would crank, crank, crank but never start. Not so in N, however. His was a 72 supercab longed w/360 V-8.
Be careful.

 

Thanks, I will. I always step firmly on the brake.