1998 ex shift cable broken
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1998 ex shift cable broken
Need some help.
Coming home tonight, truck was shifted from Drive to Reverse and I believe the shifter cable broke. Truck will not shift out of drive. Shifter is really loose. Still moves through the range, but doesn't actually do anything. It was tight prior to this as well.
I have a 1998 with a 4r100.
I climbed underneath real quick and saw an electronic gear selector on the trans.
Is there an actual cable, or is there just a switch?
Thanks!
Coming home tonight, truck was shifted from Drive to Reverse and I believe the shifter cable broke. Truck will not shift out of drive. Shifter is really loose. Still moves through the range, but doesn't actually do anything. It was tight prior to this as well.
I have a 1998 with a 4r100.
I climbed underneath real quick and saw an electronic gear selector on the trans.
Is there an actual cable, or is there just a switch?
Thanks!
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This happened on mine. I had my friend hold the brake while I put in park to start it up. Then while he held the brake I put it in drive and drove it to a repair shop. I did this on the selector underneath the truck. It at least saved me a tow. Unfortunately it is, or at least was, a dealer only part. Cost me about $130 for someone else to do it. I wish I hadnt panicked and had some on else do it because it looked like a pretty easy job.
Also if you look underneath the steering column and wiggle the gear selector you should see where the cable attaches. There are two torx bolts that wiggle loose. Pretty easy to tighten them down. I don't remember the size of the torx offhand though.
Good luck, keep us posted.
Also if you look underneath the steering column and wiggle the gear selector you should see where the cable attaches. There are two torx bolts that wiggle loose. Pretty easy to tighten them down. I don't remember the size of the torx offhand though.
Good luck, keep us posted.
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thanks for the help.
After getting under the dash, I was able to visually see that the torx screws were loose. I tightened the first one. Went to work on the second and the screw fell out in my hand. Felt around up there and discovered the aluminum bracket that the brass screws tighten into is broken on the top screw.
So, now my question is, what is the name of that bracket and is it easy to replace, or do I have to to the entire column?
After getting under the dash, I was able to visually see that the torx screws were loose. I tightened the first one. Went to work on the second and the screw fell out in my hand. Felt around up there and discovered the aluminum bracket that the brass screws tighten into is broken on the top screw.
So, now my question is, what is the name of that bracket and is it easy to replace, or do I have to to the entire column?
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The easy solution is to drill another hole for a second screw instead of trying to replace that bracket.
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So, a bit of an update.
I temp fixed it, in the thoughts that it would allow me to drive it to the shop. On a whim, I took my tools to the junkyard to look for a 97/98 F150 or expy.
Found one. Dropped the column and to my surprise, the piece that broke on my truck is the end of the shift tube. Pulled a new one off of the truck I dismantled.
Paid $18.
Installed it on my truck. Fixed my issue AND now the truck starts in park! I almost bought a neutral safety switch!
Dropping the column is cake.
1. Disconnect the shift cable
2. Remove the lower dash cover. 6 bolts (4 7mm & 2 8mm)
3. Remove the ignition switch cover (3 phillips head screws)
4. Remove the 4 nuts holding the column brace on (13mm)
5. Remove the 4 nuts holding the column up (13mm, located just on top of the brace nuts)
6. wiggle the column loose
That's it. Even for me, a relative novice, replacing the shift tube only took about an hour, including dis-assembly and re-assembly
I temp fixed it, in the thoughts that it would allow me to drive it to the shop. On a whim, I took my tools to the junkyard to look for a 97/98 F150 or expy.
Found one. Dropped the column and to my surprise, the piece that broke on my truck is the end of the shift tube. Pulled a new one off of the truck I dismantled.
Paid $18.
Installed it on my truck. Fixed my issue AND now the truck starts in park! I almost bought a neutral safety switch!
Dropping the column is cake.
1. Disconnect the shift cable
2. Remove the lower dash cover. 6 bolts (4 7mm & 2 8mm)
3. Remove the ignition switch cover (3 phillips head screws)
4. Remove the 4 nuts holding the column brace on (13mm)
5. Remove the 4 nuts holding the column up (13mm, located just on top of the brace nuts)
6. wiggle the column loose
That's it. Even for me, a relative novice, replacing the shift tube only took about an hour, including dis-assembly and re-assembly
Fleet Owner
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Posts: 24,316
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