Engine/Transmission (1994 - 1998) transmission Troubles - my truck just had an accident, without me!!

[DieselDoghouse]

OK, I gotta ask, anyone else had problems with their A/T slipping into reverse from Park. What did you find? I had my truck 'parked' but running on level ground. I had even walked behind it down a driveway. I returned when I heard a crunch and found it had backed itself about 20 feet along the curve I had just driven in—well not exactly the same curve, cause it took out the end of my friends rail fence before (fortunately) coming to a stop. When I got in the selector indicator was at P but obviously the truck wasn't parked. Total damage - 8' of fence, dent in right rear quarter, broken light lense, and the unnerving fear this could happen again somewhere. Up to now I've had no obvious transmission troubles. I have noticed that it's not as difficult to pull it out of park as a few years ago, but otherwise fine! :--)

 

[Joe G.]

Your gear indicator may be a little bit out of adjustment.

 

[ttbird]

just changed 2 nylon bushing on the shift linkage under driver side going from frame to bellhousing. Noticed play at those location. Have someone move the shifter from Park thru 1 while you look at the linkage from underneath. Dodge part# 3467800- need 2- $3. 75 each. Shifter again works like it should. But I'm still using the parking brake which I didn't use for probably nine years before it slipped the first time on the hill at the end of my driveway. Luckily I was still in the truck. Cheap lesson.

 

[Howard Durand]

Check your gearshift linkage adjusment.

At the lower end of the shift rod that comes down from the steering column there is a swivel that attaches the shift rod to the torque shaft that operates the transmission shift linkage. The swivel has a lock bolt holding it to the rod.

Loosen that lock bolt so that the swivel moves freely on the rod. Make sure the lever on the transmission is in the park detent. Check that the manual shift lever is in park position. With no tension on the shift rod from either direction, tighten the lock bolt on the swivel to around 90 inch pounds.