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shift cable

Sent to Car Experts September 3 2004 at 9:52 AM
   

I lost the key to my 2002 ford expedition while on vaction and had to have a new key cut for $300. The tow truck driver who towed my car crawled under the truck and pop something open to put the truck in neutral. When we got to the locksmith and he finished cutting and programming the key the old tow truck driver that towed me did not know how to put the truck back in gear and had to call someone else to come and do it. Now my gears are one notch down. My neutral on the steering column is reverse. Drive is my 2 on the steering column. Whatever he did to get it in neutral was simple, it seems since he was only under the truck for a hot second. help.

Customer (name blocked for privacy)
Status:  Closed   Value: $10
Answer
September 3 2004 at 11:48 AM (1 hour and 56 minutes and 4 seconds later)
         
ACCEPTEDCheck Mark

I understand that you do all have all the gears workable but only the indicator is off.

That thing is adjustable...i am not sure how on your model but i am putting here a diagram of a explorer.

If you do not get to put the car in all the gears than he may have bent something at the linkage under the car. 

This is for a FORD EXPLORER up tp 99..maybe you get an ideea...i do not have diagram fo ryour car.

Before performing the linkage adjustment, confirm that the shift indicator is properly adjusted.

  1. Turn the vehicle OFF, block the rear wheels and engage the parking brake.

  2. From inside the vehicle, place the gear shift lever in the overdrive position (shown as a circle with the letter D in the middle). On 1991 vehicles, hang an 8 lb. (3.6Kg) weight on the lever. On 1992-99 vehicles, use a 3 lb. (1.4Kg) weight.

  3. Raise and safely support the vehicle.

  4. From underneath, use a prytool to remove the shift control cable end from the transmission manual control lever ball stud.

  5. Unlock the cable adjuster body by pushing down on the two tangs and releasing the lock tab.

  6. Move the shift cable back and forth the full adjustment length four or five times to remove any accumulated dirt. Ensure that the adjuster body moves freely.

  7. Move the transmission manual control lever all the way rearward (counterclockwise) to its last position, then move it forward three detent positions. The transmission is now set in the overdrive position.

  8. Holding the cable end fitting, push it rearward until the fitting lines up with the lever ball stud. Connect the cable end to the ball stud.

  9. Push up on the lock tab to lock the adjuster body into position. Ensure that the locator tab is properly seated.

  10. Ensure that the shift cable is properly clipped to the floorpan and that is routed into the tunnel.

  11. Lower the vehicle.

  12. Remove the weight from the gear select lever.

  13. After adjustment, check for Park (P) engagement. Start the engine and check all the lever positions for proper operation.

SHIFT SELECT INDICATOR

See Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12

To test the shift select indicator:

  1. Turn the engine OFF, apply the parking brake and place the transmission select lever in the OD (overdrive) position.

  2. Hang a 3 lb. (1.4Kg) weight on the select lever.

  3. Look at the selector indicator on the instrument panel. The pointer should be centered on the D within the overdrive (circle with a letter D in the middle) graphic. If it is not, adjust as follows.

Images available only to Customers.
Fig. 9: Remove the steering column shroud fasteners, then remove the shrouds


 

To adjust the indicator:

  1. Remove the steering wheel.

  2. Remove the lower steering column trim panel from the dash board.

  3. Remove the lower steering column shroud by removing the two securing screws.

  4. Lift off the upper steering column shroud.

  5. On 1996-99 vehicles, remove the ignition switch lock cylinder.

  6. With the engine OFF and the parking brake set, move the transmission select lever into the overdrive position. Hang a 3 lb. (1.4Kg) weight on the lever.

Images available only to Customers.
Fig. 10: On 1991 vehicles, the pointer is adjusted by loosening the cable lock screw


 

  1. On 1991 vehicles, loosen the indicator cable end screw, then move the cable end to properly position the pointer until it is centered on the overdrive graphic. Tighten the cable end screw.

Images available only to Customers.
Fig. 11: On 1992 and later vehicles, there are two styles of thumb wheel adjusters. One style is mounted to the indicator assembly ...


 

Images available only to Customers.
Fig. 12: ... the other style is mounted to the underside of the column


 

  1. On 1992-99 vehicles, turn the adjuster thumb wheel to properly position the pointer until it is centered on the overdrive graphic.

  2. If removed, install the ignition switch lock cylinder.

  3. Install the upper and lower steering column shrouds and the steering wheel.

  4. Remove the weight from the lever.

  5. Operate the shift select lever in all positions and ensure that the indicator pointer aligns with all of the position graphics.

 

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