Shift arm or linkage busted
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New User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Silver City Nm
Shift arm or linkage busted
1993 Aerostar automatic transmission: I backed out of a parking stall, pulled the shift arm into drive and heard something snap. The arm immediatly felt limp and will flop around loosely, however, I can still get N,OD,D,2,&1 although the gear indicator is nowhere correct. I cannot get park or reverse. I have pulled the airbag, steering wheel, much of the dash board and misc pieces of plastic. I just finished reading some 130 postings and think the minimum is torx bolts that have fallen out but suspect that the aluminum shifter casing may be split. (I'll check these tomorrow AM) Question: Does the entire steering colunm have to be pulled to replace this part? Also, any other suggestions as to the possible cause of the problem? Thank you.
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Joined: Jul 2004
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Same thing happened to my '94 just a couple months ago. Heard a snap, and then couldn't shift it into reverse or park. Turns out my shift linkage had broken. I was able to go out to one of the local transmission shops, and they ordered me a part fairly cheaply. Took me a while before i actually fixed it (my bicycle got some usage that week), but once i started, the job wasn't that time consuming at all. Yes, you do have to tear apart the steering column housing, but as far as taking out the whole column, no, it's not necessary. With a good flashlight and a flexible arm, you should be able to replace it without much hassle. Good Luck!
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Joined: Jun 2006
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all you have to dot is pull the plastic panel underneath, then the metal plate, this will allow you to remove the 4 bolts which hold the steering column in, then you can drop it downt to get to what needs to be replaced, this has happened to me on two separate vehicles, a 95 Aero, and a 98 Ranger, i swapped shift linkage on top of the column from another column i had for each, and its flawless.
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Washington state
try a preFord Jaguar electrical system or a 1980's Dodge V8
you'll look for the nearest cliff with road access
you'll look for the nearest cliff with road access
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Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: Salt Lake City, Utah
I disagree, these are easy to work on. The loose linkage is something that happens. Most of todays vehicles are less reliable, even harder to work on, and cost more to repair than an Aerostar. There is a reason I have 2 of them.
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From: SoCal
I had a 1976 Granada that had a 3-on-the-tree manual shifter. It broke once when I was out on the town, and I had to figure out how to get it back home. I ended up reaching down to the base of the steering column to move the linkages more directly. It was an adventure getting home.
I found the shift arms from the column were being engaged by this tiny piece of steel tooth pressed into a tube that was moved by the hand lever. The tooth had broken off, probably because I was man-handling it too much while hunting for the gears; it was always quite vague-feeling. I didn't have the ability to weld at the time, so I did a floor conversion that night. The floor shifter worked much better than the column shifter, being much more direct. If the newer Aeros still have the cut-out in the floor, would it be feasable to install a floor shifter?
I found the shift arms from the column were being engaged by this tiny piece of steel tooth pressed into a tube that was moved by the hand lever. The tooth had broken off, probably because I was man-handling it too much while hunting for the gears; it was always quite vague-feeling. I didn't have the ability to weld at the time, so I did a floor conversion that night. The floor shifter worked much better than the column shifter, being much more direct. If the newer Aeros still have the cut-out in the floor, would it be feasable to install a floor shifter?
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11
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From: Lake Forest Park, WA
Same Problem- Help Needed!
Hi- I have a '92 aerostar that this just happened to- methinks it is the same problem. I loosened and dropped down the steering column, and the cast aluminum "collar" for the gear shifter is sheared. Also, the little plastic do-hickey that is used to adjust the gear indicator is broken as well. To compound the problem, I can't get the shifter back into park manually, and my key is stuck in the ignition switch. Fortunately, it is in my driveway, so no real harm done.
I called my local autoparts dealer, and he said to go to the junkyard and get a replacement there- they didn't have this part in stock (he called it a "shift linkage collar", after I described the problem- but he didn't think that was the correct term).
QUESTION: is this a hard fix? I can see a couple of screws that I believe I can access, but what else is there that I cannot see? Is this a simple case of unscrew, slide out the bad part, slide in the new part and reattach?
I would classify myself as a enthusiastic novice. Not quite a rookie, but I've never done anything with the steering/instrument cluster before. I *did* disconnect the batter so I wouldn't get a facefull of airbag before I started...
Thanks in advance for any help. Step through (with pictures) would earn HUGE karma points!
I called my local autoparts dealer, and he said to go to the junkyard and get a replacement there- they didn't have this part in stock (he called it a "shift linkage collar", after I described the problem- but he didn't think that was the correct term).
QUESTION: is this a hard fix? I can see a couple of screws that I believe I can access, but what else is there that I cannot see? Is this a simple case of unscrew, slide out the bad part, slide in the new part and reattach?
I would classify myself as a enthusiastic novice. Not quite a rookie, but I've never done anything with the steering/instrument cluster before. I *did* disconnect the batter so I wouldn't get a facefull of airbag before I started...
Thanks in advance for any help. Step through (with pictures) would earn HUGE karma points!
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New User
Joined: May 2004
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From: Silver City Nm
Shifter colar
Troutdude,
Fixing the broken shifter column was a real pain as far as I'm concerned; but then again I'm old, fat, stove up, short tempered and don't enjoy working on my vehicles anymore. I won't say it was a easy job but then again most of the difficulty was body position. Because of my infirmities I pulled the drivers seat to give me more room. You do not have to remove the steering column however I suggest you block your wheels and not try turning the steering column after you start the job. I scribed a mark on different parts as I went along, just in case. I STRONGLY SUGGEST you buy a new part (vs a junk yard part) even if you have to wait a while to get it. I noticed that the new part had been beefed up from the original,the casting was a bit thicker and there was a lot of added metal at the same place where my old part broke. The only dangerous part of the job is removing the air bag - be careful and store it properly. I think the only thing you might screw up is putting the steering wheel on in the wrong spot. Line the wheels and steering wheel up straight ahead before you start. To make life a little easier you might want to go to the local library and read the Ford shop manual. Have fun!
TN
Fixing the broken shifter column was a real pain as far as I'm concerned; but then again I'm old, fat, stove up, short tempered and don't enjoy working on my vehicles anymore. I won't say it was a easy job but then again most of the difficulty was body position. Because of my infirmities I pulled the drivers seat to give me more room. You do not have to remove the steering column however I suggest you block your wheels and not try turning the steering column after you start the job. I scribed a mark on different parts as I went along, just in case. I STRONGLY SUGGEST you buy a new part (vs a junk yard part) even if you have to wait a while to get it. I noticed that the new part had been beefed up from the original,the casting was a bit thicker and there was a lot of added metal at the same place where my old part broke. The only dangerous part of the job is removing the air bag - be careful and store it properly. I think the only thing you might screw up is putting the steering wheel on in the wrong spot. Line the wheels and steering wheel up straight ahead before you start. To make life a little easier you might want to go to the local library and read the Ford shop manual. Have fun!
TN
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Joined: Sep 2007
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Wow, this is serendipitous....
I am working on my dads '94 AWD, and I was trying to diagnose a no start condition and thought I had it narrowed down to the neutral safety switch, but then figured out it was not going into Park.
Got under there and tried to adjust the linkage, but its not adjustable. *****.
So I am going to have to remove the underside of the column and replace this collar? Does anyone have a part #? Cost? I am not finding it on RockAuto...or AutoZone....
Please advise.
Thanks
I am working on my dads '94 AWD, and I was trying to diagnose a no start condition and thought I had it narrowed down to the neutral safety switch, but then figured out it was not going into Park.
Got under there and tried to adjust the linkage, but its not adjustable. *****.
So I am going to have to remove the underside of the column and replace this collar? Does anyone have a part #? Cost? I am not finding it on RockAuto...or AutoZone....
Please advise.
Thanks
New User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Wow, this is serendipitous....
I am working on my dads '94 AWD, and I was trying to diagnose a no start condition and thought I had it narrowed down to the neutral safety switch, but then figured out it was not going into Park.
Got under there and tried to adjust the linkage, but its not adjustable. *****.
So I am going to have to remove the underside of the column and replace this collar? Does anyone have a part #? Cost? I am not finding it on RockAuto...or AutoZone....
Please advise.
Thanks
I am working on my dads '94 AWD, and I was trying to diagnose a no start condition and thought I had it narrowed down to the neutral safety switch, but then figured out it was not going into Park.
Got under there and tried to adjust the linkage, but its not adjustable. *****.
So I am going to have to remove the underside of the column and replace this collar? Does anyone have a part #? Cost? I am not finding it on RockAuto...or AutoZone....
Please advise.
Thanks