2000 gear shifter problem

[northern piper]

2000 3.8, 126,000km. wife's van so I don't drive it much. I did yesterday to find out about suspension (I'm all over this board about that - 'nuther story). Anyway, when shifting from P to R or D there is a lot of "slop". It seems like the gear shifter and pointer for the gear selected is off. As example, when shifting from P to R it often will be actually in neutral; when driving if you push up or down on the shifter there seems like a lot of motion althought it stays in gear. The trans is fine when driving, no problems. (I hate to add a "yet"). My wife reports that this has gone on for a while.

I have replaced the transmission range sensor 3 months ago but I can't see how that could impact this. I think taking the cover off the steering wheel to see where the shifter is is in order.

Has anyone else had this happen?

Piper

[Coastie John]

If I remember from a few years ago, on my 2000, there is an adjustment under the dash that allows you to adjust the pointer left or right. It's real simple to do. I want to say it was a white wheel shaped adjuster.

[northern piper]

For those that may have a similar problem here's what I did. I removed the knee guard part of the dash below the steering wheel, along with the metal panel behind the plastic one, then removed the metal bar which runs along the bottom edge. Basically opening up the dash beneath the steering wheel. Lying on my back with flash light in hand looking up where the transmission range selector cable runs there is an attachment point to a plate. This is where the steering column gear shifter connects to the cable to go into the engine compartment. The plate has 2 torx screws and between them an alignment pin. I found these 2 torx screws to be very loose and the plate had a lot of play. Initially I thought these 2 screws were designed to be loose to allow gear shifting. Anyway, on fully tightening these 2 screws the shifting is perfect, no play in the shift lever, the pointer for each gear on the dash is 100% in the right position. I did find the wheel for adjusting the pointer alignment (mine was a black wheel) but didn't need to change it at all. I guess the scariest thing was that the plate at some point would have actually fallen off and you wouldn't have been able to shift gears.

FWIW, if your gear indicator pointer is "off" take a look under the dash.

Piper

[Freakzilla69]

I just had this start happening to me. I have to put on the D to reverse and 3 to drive but P is the same.

I sure hope this is as simple to fix as described.

What kind of tools did you need to get to it? I'm at my office and wondering if this is something I can get to with a screwdriver.

[northern piper]

this repair was a little while ago so IIRC you'll need torq drivers (maybe t25, 27) something pretty small, a flashlight, phillips driver to remove the knee protector dash panel beneath the steering wheel. Don't attempt without a flashlight. Once you get yourself into a position that you can see the loose shifter plate it's a 2 minute job.

Piper

[Freakzilla69]

Torq drivers are the star shaped bits, right? Someone here might have some...

Thanks for your help.

[northern piper]

here's what a torq bit looks like. http://image.bizrate.co.uk/resize?sq...045&mid=171324

[Freakzilla69]

Originally Posted by northern piper

here's what a torq bit looks like. http://image.bizrate.co.uk/resize?sq...045&mid=171324

Great, thanks!

I found a couple, hopefully one is the right size. I'd like to try to fix it before I leave work, I'm affraid it's going to come completely loose and not shift at all.

[northern piper]

how'd the repair go?

[Freakzilla69]

The plastic clip that holds the shifter cable to the bracket on the transmission slipped off. Looked like a little tab was broken off and if you hit the cable with your foot just right it can come loose. Gonna have to ind a way to lock that down.