Auto shift linkage broken??
 

99 auto. Pulled into the parking lot and tried to put the truck into park. Nothing. It acts like the column shift lever and the linkage aren't connected anymore.
Outside of the firewall I can still move the tranny through the proper gears by twisting on the part of the steering column to the down linkage. I've pulled off covers on the coulmn but see nothing. Anyone have any guess what has failed? There was no noise or binding leading up to it's failure.
Is there a bolt or pin that may have backed out?
Whats my best plan of action?

It has a bolt on the shift shaft arm on the side of the trans.
Most likely it`s loose/fell off.

Not so sure of that. Presently I grab the linkage where the steering column comes out of the firewall, on the engine side, to put it into and out of gear. All works fine from there to the tranny. It rotates at the steering column independant from the column shifter inside of the truck. Shifter insdie of the truck moves freely and still controlls the PRND21 indicator.

Column shift tube. Inside column from shifter to the base.
Sounds like it`s come apart.

james from gunsmoke????

I think you were thinking of James ARNESS

http://www.jamesarness.com/

But he was from DODGE CITY
Jim

just kiddin.....[laugh]

Yep, just replaced the column in my old mans 01 gasser due to this same problem.

New (used) column arriving today. Had hoped it would have been something that just backed out or came apart.

Jim