Hey guys so I've been experiencing the ever so popular sloppy shifter lever in my 02 excursion. So naturally I started prowling around the site looking for answers to my issues. I have ensured both of the torx bolts are present and tight at the end of the shift tube on the bracket that connects to the shifter cable and have replaced the shift tube (It was worn out) and it helped a great deal but has not completely fixed the issue so few days ago I crawled underneath the truck to try and adjust the shift cable and have found that the detent in the shift linkage from the gear position sensor that runs to the shift mechanism (not sure what it's called) that is inside the transmission is really nonexistent, it is effortless to move it from P to R but from R to N is good and stiff like it should be but from N to D and D to 2 is effortless. The excursion has the 4r100 transmission. I have zero experience with what creates the detent inside of the transmission and was wondering if anyone has a link or pictures or write up something that I can look over and attempt to educate myself on before I dive in to this blind any help would be greatly appreciated

 

I know exactly what you mean. We call it the rooster comb. Here's a photo: E4OD problems - Diesel Forum - TheDieselStop.com. The photo is of an E4OD, but the 4R100 is identical here.

The part at the bottom of the photo that is bolted to the case is the spring. I'll bet it's broken. A new one is probably really inexpensive, and it isn't hard to install once the pan is off.