Gear selector broken, truck won't start

[Heliocentristic]

So, When I got my 2000 Ford Ranger XLT (automatic) a few months back. If you didn't get the Gear selector right, going into park the truck wouldn't start. So you have to put your foot on the brake and pretty much slam it into park, then it would start. Well, I knew it would happen, slamming it into park would eventually not do it any more, the gear selector broke off and is now flopping around loose. Thus stranding me at the local market.

So now I have two problems... 1) I broke the gear selection lever off..

2)Even if I fix the gear selector, chances are I will not be able to start the truck because of the ??? neutral safety switch, linkage adjustment.

Hoping someone has had this problem and say "OH! I had this happen.. Do this ..."

Thank you!

 

[blacksnapon]

digital transmission range sensor

Digital Transmission Range (TR) Sensor

The digital transmission range (TR) sensor is located on the outside of the transmission at the manual lever. The digital TR sensor completes the start circuit in PARK and NEUTRAL, the back-up lamp circuit in REVERSE and the neutral sense circuit (4x4 only) in NEUTRAL. The digital TR sensor also opens and closes a set of four switches that are monitored by the powertrain control module to determine the position of the manual lever (P, R, N, D, 2, 1).