Sloppy/loose shift lever
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New User
Joined: Aug 2003
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Sloppy/loose shift lever
My wifes driving the '00 250SD - she's been complaining that it won't go into park and is using the emergency brake instead. I finally got around to checking and the lever is very sloppy and almost impossible to get into park -I had to start the truck in neutral. Only 70K on this one, anybody else have this problem? Any easy solutions?
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 236
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From: Terrace B.C. Canada
My 97 f-350 was like that. I thought it was the shifter cable. While replacing the bearings in the column (loose steering wheel), I noticed that the shifter bolts were loose and replaced the plastic bushings in it. Nice and smooth after that.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,332
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From: Baltimore
Inside the shift cable attaches to a lever that is bolted onto a shaft. The screws come loose an cause the shifter to becomes sloppy. The screws have a torx head. Remove the screws, add a dab of loctite and reassemble. Only do one screw at a time. It's close quarters and hard to see let along trying to get both hands up there to hold the lever.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 123
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I have torn into mine, nothing was loose or worn. We have to come up with a way to fix this, I cannot stand it. I think it has something to do with the cable that goes to the tranny from the shifter mechanism. It has a lot of slop.
Senior User
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 440
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From: Montana
Can you discribe where these bolts are. Do I have to remove the dash to get to them. When I was looking at superdutys I noticed this on most of them.
Thanks
Budman
Thanks
Budman
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Tuned
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 461
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Remove the knee panel that gives you access to the fuses. You'll have to lay on your back and look up.
For me, the problem was elsewhere. In my case it was the linkage on the side of the transmission. I don't know how to really describe it, but there are two small plastic plates that mate together. They both have ridges to keep them together. Mine had become loose and that led to the sloppy shifter. My mechanic found it and just used a little adhesive to keep them tight. A year later and it's still good.
For me, the problem was elsewhere. In my case it was the linkage on the side of the transmission. I don't know how to really describe it, but there are two small plastic plates that mate together. They both have ridges to keep them together. Mine had become loose and that led to the sloppy shifter. My mechanic found it and just used a little adhesive to keep them tight. A year later and it's still good.
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New User
Joined: Oct 2006
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I removed the knee pad and layed on my back with a flashlight and a #30 Torq Bit in my small ratchet. I turned the ignition switch to the on position, Please note-I did not start the truck. I then was able to cycle the shift lever and saw the bracket that moves located aboce the bottom of the steering shaft. Once you see the bracket, you can clearly see these two torq bolts and reach in there and tighten.
If the alignment of the shift indicator no longer mateches the letters in the display, you can adjust the cable with a small thumb wheel adjusted located near the bottom. Follow the cable and you will find the thumb wheel.
Five minutes of work and the shifter is like new.
It took me longer to get my old body into position than to actually fix it.
Ed
If the alignment of the shift indicator no longer mateches the letters in the display, you can adjust the cable with a small thumb wheel adjusted located near the bottom. Follow the cable and you will find the thumb wheel.
Five minutes of work and the shifter is like new.
It took me longer to get my old body into position than to actually fix it.
Ed
Former Vendor
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,849
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From: Seattle
You may have a broken shift tube. you can check that out by removing the upper and lower shrouds from the steering column. There are 4 screws that are accessed from the bottom of the lower shroud. Remove them and the shrouds should come off and you will be able to inspect the shift tube. Dan.
