column shift lever problem- anyone have this problem?
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: Mass
column shift lever problem- anyone have this problem?
recently when i go to start my truck it does nothing, have electric but no engine at all. when the ignitions turned half way i'll take the shift lever out of park then put it back in park real firm and the truck starts right up. i'm thinkin its got to do with the shift lever not recognizing its in park to start up. i'm not really familiar with this area and have never had this happen on any other truck, whatdayathink?
Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 26,966
Likes: 50
From: Texas
There's a couple of screws that hold the lever to the column (torx fitting I believe). Take a peek under there and see if they just need to be tightened up. Until you get to that, you might try just starting it in neutral so you don't break something else jamming it back into park.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 4,292
Likes: 5
From: NJ where fun comes to die
This happened to me too. What you have to watch out for:
You may not be in Park and the truck rolls when you get out.
You have to start in neutral.
You may not be in drive, it may be drive 2.
Reverse may not be where you think it is, and it won't go in when you really need it to.
Otherwise it is no problem.
You may not be in Park and the truck rolls when you get out.
You have to start in neutral.
You may not be in drive, it may be drive 2.
Reverse may not be where you think it is, and it won't go in when you really need it to.
Otherwise it is no problem.
Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: Mass
[quote=trike1946;6538632]This happened to me too. What you have to watch out for:
You may not be in Park and the truck rolls when you get out.
You have to start in neutral.
You may not be in drive, it may be drive 2.
Reverse may not be where you think it is, and it won't go in when you really need it to.
Otherwise it is no problem.
what was it?
You may not be in Park and the truck rolls when you get out.
You have to start in neutral.
You may not be in drive, it may be drive 2.
Reverse may not be where you think it is, and it won't go in when you really need it to.
Otherwise it is no problem.
what was it?
Lead Driver
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,613
Likes: 9
From: Flagstaff, Arizona
Long before I discovered FTE.....I had this same problem, I brought the truck to a tranny shop, and the guy fixed it in less then 5 minutes. What Chris said is what fixed mine.....just an adjustment under the collumn is all it took. The guy didn't even charge me!
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Postmaster
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,916
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From: Bellingham, WA
Under the dash fuse cover right below the steering wheel there is a barrel nut you can turn that will center the gear indicator. I think you chock the wheels, put it in neutral and then turn it a little at a time until the gear selector is centered on N. That's what worked on mine anyways.
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Thread Starter
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Senior User
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 436
Likes: 1
From: Mass
i found the barrel nut on the shift lever cable and was able to center the arrow indicator on the dash to the center of each gear (drive, reverse,etc), easy enough. then when i went to start it, it cranked for 1/2 second then wouldn't start, put it in neutral and it started. did this a few times with the same result. Now i've been way overdue for an oilchange and thank god for FTE, cause i've found out on here that the engines very sensitive to its oil and said "maybe". well changed the oil and i've stared and stopped it 50 times today with no problems. starts everytime smooth, crisp and fast. so between fixing the shift lever cable and the oil change its turned out to be a good day.
Freshman User
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 30
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From: Gig Harbor
Stung again before reading FTE! I was getting fuel today and couldnt get my truck into park. long story short I was two blocks from my mechanic and stopped by, he said two hours labor at $60.00 per hour and I should be good to go! Seems like a problem I could have fixed!
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 13,144
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From: Rochdale MA
Stung again before reading FTE! I was getting fuel today and couldnt get my truck into park. long story short I was two blocks from my mechanic and stopped by, he said two hours labor at $60.00 per hour and I should be good to go! Seems like a problem I could have fixed!
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 237
Likes: 0
From: Melbourne, Florida
