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So I am looking for some kind of instruction on how I might be able to fix this, capable or not.

1998 Ford Explorer Sport, 4WD, 4.0 I think.

So first, my Shifter Dial, the little hand that points to P R N D 2 1, was off, basically when it pointed to 2nd, I was actually in Drive, that was not a big deal to me I figured it was just a minor cosmetic problem, then a matter of weeks later, I cant start my car!, but I was quick to think, wait, maybe the the shifters sensor is thinking I am in Reverse, there for I must put my car in Park, but.... it is? or is it? so I hit the brake, took the shifter down a noch, put it back to park, and held it there, while I tried to start the car, YES!!! it started, then it begun doing that every once in a while, it appears to be a fact that its a sensor, sense if it was in revers would roll. ok, now, that sucks, but not exactly bothering me :-/, and now after all of this, I try and try again, and can not put my car in park, I push the shifter all the way up to park, and it just goes to reverse, so I turn it off, take the key out, put in neutral put the E brake on, and dont park on hills, well... this bothers me and I would really like to fix it, I hope someone could possibly give me a step by step on what to do to fix it, if its not a big Tranny deal? maybe just take the steering colum cover off and adjust something??? Thank you guys/girls a ton!!  

The 99 Explorer came with two different trans, the 4R70 and the5R55E, but both have a shift cable , only the 5R55E cable is thicker in diameter,I think the cable is stretched, just needs adjusted at the trans ,Ford realy didn't have many problelms with the shift lever in the steering wheel until around 02 and in the Mountaineer,Just try to adjust the cable.  

is this somthing i can do "fairly" easy just by being under the car or do i have to remove the trans? or do i have to remove anything else?  

You don't have to remove the trans,the cable is on the shift lever on the out side of the trans, and that is where the adjustment is. make sure you block the wheels then Just unclip the shift cable from the lever,put the trans (shift lever that is on the side of the trans)in park, then put the shifter on the sterring column in park and adjust the cable until it will clip back on the lever on the trans. Depending on what trans you have the adjustment are of a different type.  

AH!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!! and I am going to love you more as soon as I do this,!!! serious I love you guys!!!