E350 hard to move gear selector
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E350 hard to move gear selector
Hello Everyone, I am just about committed to purchasing a 1997 Ford E350 extended cargo van with the 5.4. The transmission shifts through all the gears nice and firm (reverse also works). The only issue with the van is the column selector lever is very hard to move between the entire range of PRND21. It also does not "click" into the selected positions, you have to just line up the pointer to the desired gear selection.
Is this a complete deal breaker (internal transmission issue/replacement necessary) or, is it something relatively simple (such as a worn selector cable). The owner did admit the van has been sitting for sometime. It has 134,000 miles on it.
Is this a complete deal breaker (internal transmission issue/replacement necessary) or, is it something relatively simple (such as a worn selector cable). The owner did admit the van has been sitting for sometime. It has 134,000 miles on it.
Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,741
Likes: 2,669
From: SE Florida
That is usually a bad Transmission Range Sensor (TRS.). It is located on the drivers side of the trans. Working slowly it should take less than half an hour to change. A new one is less than $100.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 2,982
Likes: 7
From: Somewhere Saskatchewan
Block the wheels and disconnect the cable from the selector at the transmission.
I bet the lever at the transmission moves freely.
There is a mechanism under the dash that causes lots of grief.
Many times I have found 2 screws had loosened.
I bet the lever at the transmission moves freely.
There is a mechanism under the dash that causes lots of grief.
Many times I have found 2 screws had loosened.
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Thanks for the replies.... I'm going to take the chance and purchase the van. Only $2000 with no rust (hard to find in Connecticut), plus it's a clean extended length, no leaks or obvious signs of trouble besides this issue and a somewhat sloppy front end (which I know is common on higher mileage econolines, nothing I can't tackle).
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Joined: Mar 2015
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2002 gear selector hard to move
I know this post has been dormant for a while, but I was having the same problem with a 2002 e-series. The gear shift lever is really stiff and hard to put into gear, full range. Once it's in (any) gear, it's fine, but the column shifter is just stiff. Sounds like I am having the same problem Fordvanguy88 had.
You had said the range selector switch solved the problem. Could you tell me more about this...like if it's easy to get to, where is it? (column, under dash, by the trans? And is it a repair or a replace? Is the part expensive?
I'm gonna try and take a look today just to get a visual of the layout and see if I notice anything loose or funny, but if the 97 is close to a 2002, I have a feeling this might be my problem too.
You had said the range selector switch solved the problem. Could you tell me more about this...like if it's easy to get to, where is it? (column, under dash, by the trans? And is it a repair or a replace? Is the part expensive?
I'm gonna try and take a look today just to get a visual of the layout and see if I notice anything loose or funny, but if the 97 is close to a 2002, I have a feeling this might be my problem too.
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Frmr Ford Trans Engr
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 24,741
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From: SE Florida
It's mounted to the driver's side of the transmission. The shift cable and a wiring harness connect there. The part is about $50.
To install, chock the wheels and set the parking brake. Put the trans in neutral.
Remove the nut that holds the shift lever to the transmission. Remove the lever.
Unplug the wiring harness from the range sensor.
Remove the two bolts that hold the range sensor to the trans. Remove the sensor. It often can be hard to pull off, sometimes you have to destroy it to get it off.
Install the new one. Align the alignment mark on the rotating part with the mark on the housing. Install the two bolts. Plug in the wiring, put the shift lever back on, and install the nut.
All done!
To install, chock the wheels and set the parking brake. Put the trans in neutral.
Remove the nut that holds the shift lever to the transmission. Remove the lever.
Unplug the wiring harness from the range sensor.
Remove the two bolts that hold the range sensor to the trans. Remove the sensor. It often can be hard to pull off, sometimes you have to destroy it to get it off.
Install the new one. Align the alignment mark on the rotating part with the mark on the housing. Install the two bolts. Plug in the wiring, put the shift lever back on, and install the nut.
All done!
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Posting Guru
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,714
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From: Canton, IL
I second this diagnosis. I had the same thing on my F250. hard to shift, not really any detents.. when i was rebuilding my trans (still in progress), i found that my TRS was froze to the shaft, and was binding terribly.
Changed it, now is free as a bird.. slips up and down the column like butter, and has detents.. Easy shifting..
if you want to test it, pop the cable off the manual lever on the side of the trans. Hop in the Van, play with the shifter.. It should move SUPER easy.. if not, you may have a bad cable.
if you find lots of rust, or can't get TRS off the shaft, Break the TRS off, (its only plastic) clean up the shaft with a wire wheel, install the new TRS. A new TRS from autozone was $50...
New User
Joined: Mar 2015
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Thanks for the posts. I was about to replace the shift interlock under the dash because it feels like I'm crunching plastic in the column whenever I move through the gears. But, it sounds like the TRS is a common source of this problem. Its much easier to get to, that is for sure.
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