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Hey everyone, I've found the loose Torx bolts to tighten my shifter. I can't tell what size they are, I'm so contorted just to find them. I figure I'll have one arm shortened and remove a finger so I can get up in there. Any advice appreciated. It looks bigger than a T25 (biggest I own). Did anyone use a tool that is specific to this van?
I see the problem, I know what and how to fix it, but advice on technique is appreciated.
My friend did the repair on my van. I can't because I'm a wheelchair user. He used a 1/4" drive ratchet and did them one at a time using some blue Locktite. Like I said, it's reach and feel. My van has remote start, alarm, dual battery apparatus and other stuff tucked up into that space as well, so if you don't have all that it shouldn't be too difficult. It didn't seem like any big deal for my friend.
When I do this task I just drop the entire steering column letting the steering wheel rest on the drivers seat. I'll also replace the shift tube bushings at the same time--when the column is resting on the seat this task is infinitely easier.
OK, thanks for that tip. I am mechanically competent, but that operation sounds like a lot. Or is it less scary than it sounds? Cruising YouTube looking for advice, I've not come across seeing anyone let the steering wheel down, I wouldn't know where to start on that. But I'll look some more. Battery still disconnected, so no fears of UABD (Unintended Air Bag Deployment)
Dropping the steering column isn't mechanically challenging as there are only four nuts holding it in place to the dashboard superstructure. There is a small cord from the steering column to the gear selector (R, N, D, etc) that needs to be disconnected other wise it will break and you'll forever be in R regardless which gear you've selected.
If that seems more than you'd like to tackle work through what you're already doing and don't give it too much thought.
Thanks, that's sound advice. I'll get the seat out and see if it makes it any easier. I've done some ambitious things in the past including swapping engines, so I'll get my nerve up and take a look.
DO NOT remove the seat as that mostly defeats the idea of dropping the column. You want the seat still in place so the steering wheel has a place to rest. If the column is allowed to drop too far you run the risk of damaging wiring connected to and through the column.
Not sure where you got the idea to remove the seat but DO NOT REMOVE THE SEAT!!!
Hi, thanks again for your help, here are a couple pics, this is a bit different from the videos I've seen on Youtube (those are mostly Explorer models). The question is, do I need to take down that big piece of metal to let the steering column down far enough to replace the bushings? Here's a couple pics. I'm also seeing a long tube that runs sorta parallel and under the column, does that affect what I'm trying to do here? Apologies for the huge pics.
Once that's done you'll have this view/access to the upper part of the steering column:
But BEFORE you drop the column you must locate and detach this part of the instrument cluster:
This ^^^ is attached to and part of the instrument cluster---its the gear indicator I mentioned earlier. If the column is dropped while still connected the string will break, you'll have no idea what gear has been selected by the shift tube. It is part of the instrument cluster and can be replaced but better to simply disconnect it and save that headache.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, these are worth ten thousand. Thank you. We have the same model van, and I spotted that cable you mention. It looks like a 10mm bolt, If I remove that and remove it from the hook am I good to go?
If a picture is worth a thousand words, these are worth ten thousand. Thank you. We have the same model van, and I spotted that cable you mention. It looks like a 10mm bolt, If I remove that and remove it from the hook am I good to go?
Ben
Yes however that bolt is more like a 7mm or 8mm--the photo is in extreme close up.
FWIW the steering column you're working on runs from at least 1997 to EOL in the E-Series, can also be found in the 1996 F-Series too--not sure how far into the later years it extended but I did swap a 1997 column with tilt wheel into my 2003 E-250 with just one part needing transferred from the F-Series to the E-Series.
