Auto Trans Shift Detent Alignment

[JSoule]

Hi, new memeber here, my '91 auto trans truck has a lot of slop in the shift lever such that the gear indicator does not line up at all with the gear selected. Is this a known linkage wear issue corrected with new bushings or is the problem in the shift lever on the column? To start truck, "park" has to be properly engaged in order to activate starter which means the lever is pushed all the way to the far left past the park indicator on the column. Any known cures for this? The detents feel pretty weak too, whats up? Thanks!



James

 

[Phil Stuart]

sloppy linkage

James,



Check for worn bushings on the linkage down by the trans where the bracket is that mounts to the trans. I replace all of them when I pulled the trans for repair. These can be had from the dealer. I do believe there is an adjustment on the column for the indicator. It is moved by a small steel cable.



Also double check that the shifter arm is on the valve body shaft correctly and is lined up with the flat on the shaft. Nut should be good'n tight.



Hope this helps.



Phil S

 

[BushWakr - RIP]

JAMES... ... . WELCOME TO THE GROUP BUD... .



Jump in here guy's, Jim could use some of the famous 1st gen group input... .



bob...

 

[JSoule]

Thanks guys, a good place to start. I bet that this is a pretty common problem for gen 1's



James

 

[1stgen4evr]

Don't know that I have an answer to your problem but I can offer a welcome to the forum. I have a 92 that was worked on by a dealer (before I got the truck) and I have to jerk it out of park. It was at the dealers shop to repair the hunting problem with OD. THe dealer put a new OD unit on it which did absolutely no good what so ever. I put a new TPS on it and it worked better but it has never been quite right. The dealer mechanic didn't get the shifter aligned as you mention with yours and I think the support for the shift down by the transmission is bent. (More quality repair). This is the truck that I am considering a manual change out or perhaps a 'built' aftermarket transmission. If you are following the post on that, there are aftermarket parts to build a really tough automatic that can stand up to the increased HP that some of the guys are doing.



You will probably be able to adjust out the problem that you are having.



James M

 

[Greenleaf]

I have a 1990 with approx 310,000 miles. The only problem I noticed was that the pointer is way off. So, I bent the steel spring clippy thing that the small wire is attatched to. This put things back into register for the most part. If I have P R and N aligned then D 1 2 are way off and so on.



I also have to push the lever up into park all the way to start the engine however I never start in Park..... I always use "N" in my trucks so it's a moot point with the 1990 model.

 

[TSuter]

On my truck the pointer broke off the last time I was behind the dash so I have to count to make sure I'm in the right gear, but I did have a '72 Satellite that the bushings were so worn out it was impossible to drive. I replaced the bushings which the dealer should have and everything went back to good as new.



Tom