Help!! Gearshift lever "disconnected" itself
Elder User
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 510
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From: Portland, OR
Help!! Gearshift lever "disconnected" itself
This one didn't happen at a worse time....gearshift lever in 93 Aerostar AWD went totally limp (like it "disconnected" itself). Tried to get covers off to look at it, couldn't do it before I had to leave. Feels like it's in the column, not down by the tranny.
Any quick & easy way to describe the necessary parts & fix? I'm in meeting all day today but if someone could answer by about 3:00 PM PST I would be most grateful.
Thanks!
Mark Biederbeck
Any quick & easy way to describe the necessary parts & fix? I'm in meeting all day today but if someone could answer by about 3:00 PM PST I would be most grateful.
Thanks!
Mark Biederbeck
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
From: USA
Help!! Gearshift lever "disconnected" itself
i have had this exact same problem! there is a rod in the colmn, that goes down to the tranny and changes gears. my mom broke that rod. this is likely what happened to yours. we were lucky enough to be able to get it in gear so we didn't have to have it towed. you can not fix this your self unless you really know what you are doing. hey if it makes you feel any better this is acctually more common than you think. I highly recomend you take it to a ford dealer and have them do it. i know it will cost more than another shop, but we took ours to a local shop and they left it too loose, so it will break again some day. make sure after it is fixed that there isn't a lof of "play" in the shifter if there is tell them to fix it then. don't wait.
Hope this helped.good luck.
Hope this helped.good luck.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 758
Likes: 0
From: Northern PA
My 96 did that, after pulling into a parking spot. I put it in park, and it felt like it just broke. No amount of moving the gear selector would help, it was "limp".
I had my wife come to pick me up, and I had her start the van while I got under it and put it in gear by hand.
Drove it home and took a look under the dash. The shifter is controlled by a cable that is anchored to a fitting on the steering column, under the dash. It had come loose from there, so I put it back in the holder, and used a couple of large, heavy duty cable ties to secure it back in the holder. It's been working fine ever since.
I had my wife come to pick me up, and I had her start the van while I got under it and put it in gear by hand.
Drove it home and took a look under the dash. The shifter is controlled by a cable that is anchored to a fitting on the steering column, under the dash. It had come loose from there, so I put it back in the holder, and used a couple of large, heavy duty cable ties to secure it back in the holder. It's been working fine ever since.
Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Portage la Prairie, Mb.
My 92 Aerostar did the same thing. My 16 year -ld hit the gas instead of the brake, yanked down on the lever, and bam!, nothing. Any ideas where I could get an exploded view of the column and interlock mech? Thanks in advance.
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
Likes: 15
From: BC, Canada
Hi wettone and welcome to the forum 
There are some pictures that aren't great but may help at http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiB...epair_info.jsp
I would check where the cable attaches to the lever at the bottom of the column. The lever is held on with 2 screws. They do fall out sometimes. If that's ok then the shift tube is probably broken. If you remove the covers under the steering column and drop the column down you can see the shift tube sitting on top of the column. I'ts pretty easy to get at on an Aerostar if I remember correctly.
There are some pictures that aren't great but may help at http://www1.autozone.com/servlet/UiB...epair_info.jsp
I would check where the cable attaches to the lever at the bottom of the column. The lever is held on with 2 screws. They do fall out sometimes. If that's ok then the shift tube is probably broken. If you remove the covers under the steering column and drop the column down you can see the shift tube sitting on top of the column. I'ts pretty easy to get at on an Aerostar if I remember correctly.
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Portage la Prairie, Mb.
Thanks a bunch! It's been a hell of a few weeks! The old girl hasn't cost me a dime (other than routine) for the past few years, then Boom! First the water pump, then the battery went south, the other night, the muffler exit pipe just fell off, then today.......LOL! Oh well, what else does a professional chef have to do on his days off?
Thanks again for the help! I have a feeling I'll be back often.........
Thanks again for the help! I have a feeling I'll be back often.........
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Freshman User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 34
Likes: 0
From: Portage la Prairie, Mb.
Lol on the snacks! Rather large delivery charge from Manitoba to B.C.
Anyhow, yes, it was the shifter tube.$38.00 from ford. Not a bad job to change, and back in business again! Thanks for the help and advice.
Anyhow, yes, it was the shifter tube.$38.00 from ford. Not a bad job to change, and back in business again! Thanks for the help and advice.
New User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
My 93 aerostar did this also, Take the bottom panel off underneath steering wheel. Crawl under with a flash light and rock the wheel. You'll see two allen/star bolts that will be loose. they tighten to the cable spindle on the steering column , they will need retightened. Gmstar2
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