How To Fix A Broken Gear Shift. The main reason most of the times in these cases is a sluggish and stuck lip or teeth in the shifter Check this video. This is a broken shift cable its an easy repair to do.

Most likely the cause is a broken shift lever return spring. The spring should come with it unless its broken and fallen out into the case. This is a 10 page step-by-step pictorial set of instructions and written specifically for replacing a broken shift lever pivot on Ford Explorer and Mercury Mountaineer models from 2002-2005.
Plus you will know if theres something you can do to avoid it.
This spring is mounted in the shift bowl and forces the lever to both return when pulled by the driver and engage the respective detent positions when shifted into the respective gears PRNDL. Any ideas or links would be great. Understanding the problem will help you figure out the right answer. This spring is mounted in the shift bowl and forces the lever to both return when pulled by the driver and engage the respective detent positions when shifted into the respective gears PRNDL.

