If I shift out of park, as soon as I do there is a sharp snap within the housing right behind the steering wheel. I can't tell if it is a plastic noise or metal.

I don't feel any resistance when it happens and I've never taken it in for this, as it's a very sometimes thing. Anyone else have this?

 

i know what you are talking about, mine does it while driving down the street. it will just snap, does sound like plastic cracking or something, been doing it for three years and 68000 miles, so not to worry

 

I do know that it has nothing to do with turning the steering wheel, does yours?

 

just driving straight, it sounds like someone cracked a whip, snap and away it goes.

 

sounds like it could also be your universals if its doing it right as you put tension on the drive shaft...the only thing throwing me off is your hearing it from the front of the truck. tough question

 

So it's in the steering column? Is there any smoke...electrical short? My Ranger had one of those. Does it seem to be coming up through the linkage from the tranny, or like something is catching inside the column.

 

Oh, no it's nothing outside the truck, it's in the housing between the speedo and the steering wheel. It's done it for a while, it's almost more related to the shifter/brake pedal interlock. It happened yesterday and I had just put my foot on the brake pedal and was going for the gear lever. It's in that interlock assembly. Some time I'll get bored and take it apart I guess.

I've never heard any snap or crack noise just driving down the road though.

 

Be careful messing with a column......Airbag and all.

 

even thought I have a 2nd gen, only time i have anythinng close to that, is if I have alot of static weight on the parking brake pulling out of park.