Auto Trans shifter help please

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Mar 26, 2009 | 11:16 PM

jatx

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From: Central Texas

Auto Trans shifter help please

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9; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> <![endif]--> I found the post talking about the two screws that tend to back out on the shifter linkage under the dash on the auto trans. My shifter was real sloppy loose and the indicator did not line up properly. I tightened the screws up they were loose but only about 1/8 inch. This tightened up the shifter some but not completely. The indicator lines up now but the shifter is still a little sloppy. Are there any other screws on the shifter that might have come loose? Maybe inside the column and if there are how hard is it to get to them. Also now it is a little hard to shift from park to reverse don’t know why. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Joe

Mar 27, 2009 | 12:36 AM

DAVID'S97F250HD

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I have replaced about 20 or so of these shift tube and on a fleet baises they are weak.

The outter tube rotates a plate that those 2 screws you tightened up on that is connected to your trans shift cable and your indicator cable. Those are the only 2 screws your can tighten up related to the shift tube.

Things that will add to the sloppiness beyond those screws. I'll try to put this in point form.

-The outter tube rotates on 2 plastic bushings, those bushings can wear out which will allow the outter tube to bounce around in. (common)

FIX: Disassemble and replace bushings

-Each bushing on the outter tube has a clamp, each with 2 screws that can loosen. (rare)

FIX: Drop column and tighten clamp screws

-The 2 screws like you tightened can back out, I put a little bit of blue locktite on the threads on shift tube replacements. (somewhat common)

FIX: Can be tightened with out dropping column

-The pin on the outter shift tube that the shifter handle pivots on wears out and allows there to be slop in the handle to ouuter shift tube.(very common)

FIX: Disassemble and replace worn parts, 90% of the time you need shift handle pin and outter shift column. The other 10% of the time you need the 1st 2 parts and the shift handle.

Those are your main points of wear, for stiff shifting in all cases I've found kinked or badly bent shift cables or corrosion from elements make its way into the cable at the transmission. These cables can sieze up just like your e-brake cables. I have replaced many inner and outter shift tubes that are broken from operators forcing on the handle because of siezed shift cables.

Mar 27, 2009 | 03:45 PM

jatx

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From: Central Texas

Thanks that is great information and gives me the direction I needed. I have just received my service man and I think I can work this out now thanks again

Joe

Mar 28, 2009 | 12:24 AM

jimwilsonmasonry

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From: indy

where are these two screws located mine is a little sloppy 2

Mar 28, 2009 | 04:58 AM

jeep1947

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From: Jeffersonville IN

Jim get a flashlight and look under the dash where shift tube comes down column there are 2 torx head screws which tend to back out tighten them up, this is the most common problem.

Mar 28, 2009 | 12:50 PM

jimwilsonmasonry

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From: indy

thanks guys im gonna check it out

Jun 13, 2009 | 02:41 PM

brooksbronco17

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Joined: Dec 2006

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From: Dundas, IL

Add my uncle to the list of the people with the sloppy shifter. Once i found this picture it took like 2 minutes to fix with a T30 Torx bit. Gotta love this forum...

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Sep 24, 2009 | 04:31 PM

DAVID'S97F250HD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by maunakearick

Welcome and stick around, this board is full of knowledge and will save you money down the road.

Feb 27, 2010 | 03:48 PM

#10

150-7700

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Quote:

Originally Posted by DAVID'S97F250HD

Hey, I was linked to this post from my post about my f150 (02) not starting sometimes cause it doesnt know its in park...unfortunatly those torx bolts werent loose, so the easy fix was out, can you elaborate on the first point about the "outter tube"? not sure what this is, but it seems to me the problem is that the shaft that links the shift lever to that torx bolted mechanism has alot of play up and down, any thoughts? thanks eh

Mar 2, 2010 | 06:03 PM

#11

DAVID'S97F250HD

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Quote:

Originally Posted by 150-7700

To me it sounds like you have a plastic bushing with lots of play or popped out from the hold down clamp that supports the shift tube

remove 4 bolts underneath to drop the steering column. Do this with the battery dissconnected and with the steering column covers removed, you will need to do this to get to these bushings and clamps that support the shift tube assembally.

Will add:

1. to remove ignition switch, rotate foward in ignition position and use a small screw driver through the hole on the bottom steering cover to release the ignition switch lock.

2. before dropping column, reach underneath the dash and dissconnect the shift cable and the small cable for the shift indicator(indicator cable maybe easier to remove from up on top). You dont want to be breaking the cables or kinking them when dropping the column.

Also: you may cheat alittle on this job, remove the top most bolts underneath to drop the column and the bottom most bolts found underneath; just loosen these half way so the column pivots and not completly laying on the floor.