2003 shift problem

[t4r4wd]

My shifter knob is floppy from left to right. It will not lock in 4th gear nor in Low gear. In reverse and park it will just flop around a lot. Waaaay more than I have ever felt in the 3 years ive had the vehicle. I have done a few searches for this subject and found little information about bushings? Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, was it transmission linkage or transmission problems? Hope nothing extreme, but please share your experiences.

 

[BOSMECH]

I curious to see the answer on this one since we all would like to know the cause and fix in case anyone else has this problem.

 

[HokieRunner]

My shifter knob is floppy from left to right. It will not lock in 4th gear nor in Low gear. In reverse and park it will just flop around a lot. Waaaay more than I have ever felt in the 3 years ive had the vehicle. I have done a few searches for this subject and found little information about bushings? Just wondering if anyone else has had this problem, was it transmission linkage or transmission problems? Hope nothing extreme, but please share your experiences.

At first this sounded like a shifter bushing issue but I found this thread that may indicate otherwise - Loose auto shifter

Let us know what you find if you decide to take it apart. I'd highly doubt it has anything to do with the linkage or transmission. You may need a new shifter unit in which case your best bet may be a salvage yard or ebay. Hopefully something just came loose internally.

 

[t4r4wd]

i have manually shifted it in the past, for more of the mountain areas where i live, but nothing extreme. I have read about the bushings, just wondering if that will help the shifter lock in the low gear instead of flopping back over to 2nd? same with 4 and D?

 

[HokieRunner]

i have manually shifted it in the past, for more of the mountain areas where i live, but nothing extreme. I have read about the bushings, just wondering if that will help the shifter lock in the low gear instead of flopping back over to 2nd? same with 4 and D?

Went back and edited my post after I came across some different information. I thought it was bushings at first but am thinking it may be a different issue now. Loose shifter

 

[t4r4wd]

Great thread link. I think thats the route im going to have to take. Thanks for the research and help. I will let you guys know what happens when i open this thing up.

 

[t4r4wd]

So, opened it up and found the pin! It has come out of the slot with a small spring thats inside. The spring is still in the slot but I cant get the pin to hold in. Once i put the car into gear it wants to pop out and the shifter is floppy again.

 

[t4r4wd]

This is where the pin needs to go but it wont set well in the slot with that spring. Would like to see a diagram if anyone has one to see how it locks in place.

 

[HokieRunner]

Good find! What does the bottom of the pin look like?

 

[t4r4wd]

One side of the pin is flat and smooth, the other end which i believe runs the track is rounded and smooth. Nothing looks broken or in rough shape. The link thread posted earlier mentioned something about the spring being too long or stiff. They mentioned cutting it to fit down in the slot better.

 

[t4r4wd]

Its fixed! I put some crisco on the track to see where the pin was slipping out. Never found any faults, but was still having trouble shifting. I go the pin spring out and cut it about 1/8" and it works awesome. Better than factory! Always had trouble going from 3-2-1, no problems now.

 

[HokieRunner]

Its fixed! I put some crisco on the track to see where the pin was slipping out. Never found any faults, but was still having trouble shifting. I go the pin spring out and cut it about 1/8" and it works awesome. Better than factory! Always had trouble going from 3-2-1, no problems now.

Great fix - glad you worked it out! Good thing to know if mine ever goes south!

 

[t4r4wd]

Thanks for the thread link again. That was a great bit of info.

 

[ctkhalaf]

Awesome thread. great info. My pin popped out recently and i was able to fix it and shorten the spring as said above. works like a charm.

thanks!!!!

 

[ctkhalaf]

Well... Cut more than 1/8th of an inch off of the spring and I think i actually shortened my spring too much! Won't stay in 4th now. Just pops over to fifth.
Do you guys know if its possible to get a replacement spring? Any Suggestions?

 

[MSRP.]

Funny, I always knew it was supposed to stay in 4th, but kinda preferred that it slapped back into D the moment I let go. Makes for easy overtaking on the highway.

I don't pull heavy loads requiring me to lock it in 4th.
2003 v8 5 speed here.

 

[GH05T4r]

Its fixed! I put some crisco on the track to see where the pin was slipping out. Never found any faults, but was still having trouble shifting. I go the pin spring out and cut it about 1/8" and it works awesome. Better than factory! Always had trouble going from 3-2-1, no problems now.

I had the same problem and got lucky with finding a shifter assembly from pull and pay. After cleaning it out I got the spring removed and cut it bit by bit...BEST ADVICE EVER