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4 low + shifter linkage problems - please help

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Old Jul 16, 2016 | 01:35 PM
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4 low + shifter linkage problems - please help

Hi - recently posted about issues with my 2000 expedition 4.6 not going into 4L. 4AWD is standard and works well and so does 4H, not no 4L. Fuses good, switch good, replaced relay by gauge cluster, still nothing. Truck wouldn't start in Neutral so i thought the neutral safety switch was bad.

So, i replaced that today. I manually, from under the truck, put it in neutral and the truck started. Win. So i think attempted to put it in 4L and nothing... nothing! First question - do i move on to the transfer case motor? What else could it be?

I go to put the shifter linkage back on the trans and well, it won't go. Let me rephrase, it goes on but when the shifter is in Park the trans is in Reverse. How can i fix this? I can't even drive the truck with this issue. Currently sitting in park with the cable not hooked up. The torx under the dash are tight.

Please help.

Thank you.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2016 | 02:46 PM
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There are two Torx bolts on the underside of the column that sometimes mess with the gear selector positions. I'd check on them first.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2016 | 02:52 PM
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Originally Posted by alwaysfords41
There are two Torx bolts on the underside of the column that sometimes mess with the gear selector positions. I'd check on them first.
I checked the torx before changing out the switch. They were tight. They are still tight. Only thing that changed was the switch at the trans. Neutral markings are lined up, line up, etc. Just when you hook the cable back to the lever and move the lever into park, it puts the trans in reverse.
 
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Old Jul 16, 2016 | 08:03 PM
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Did you adjust the plastic bushing/clip on the tranny end of the shift cable?


Block the wheels. With the shift cable disconnected from the tranny, put the shift lever in the cab in the "N" position. From under the truck, shift the transmission shift lever to the neutral position. Assemble the plastic bushing and plastic locking clip to the cable "brick", pushing the locking clip only half way down. This halfway position allows the plastic bushing to slide back and forth on the cable "brick". Slide the bushing to where it lines up with the shifter stud, snap the bushing over the stud, and then slide the plastic clip all the way down so that the plastic bushing is locked to the cable "brick".


If you now try and shift the shift lever into park and the tranny only makes it to reverse and not into park, the adjuster wheel up under the dash is broken.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2016 | 12:14 AM
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Not to the extent of adjusting the cable on the block. How do you release the clip to move the cable. I did uninstall and reinstall the switch in neutral. But when reinstalling, it wouldn't reach.

Also, where is that little black gear to check that regardless.

Plan to work on this in the morning. Thanks for the input. Any specific advice on releasing that clip on the block would be appreciated.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2016 | 12:17 AM
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Just re read, noticed you said put the lever in neutral with the cable disconnected. It doesn't want to go past R (which I guess is actually neutral since P is reverse) with the cable undone. With the cable connected, it will go through the all gears, but not very fluidly, need to persuade it.
 
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Old Jul 17, 2016 | 09:06 AM
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That adjustment worked! Thanks very much. Shifting from park down through the gears is as it should be. Going through the gears back into park is a little vague..

Also, for 4 low now engaged! This was the original project I was trying to fix.
 
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