I was under the truck to get it ready for the summer towing season and trying to put a tranny temp guage in. I noticed that the cable to the tranny comes out of the cab through the firewall and down the front of the firewall and passes the point where the exhaust manifold joins the exhaust pipe on the driver's side. At this point there is an aluminum sheath to protect the cable. The cable was touching the exhaust flange and has wore or burnt through the aluminum sheath and the plastic part of the cable to the center steel core of the cable. Everything works fine yet but I am worried it will fail over time as road salt water and dirt will eventually corode and bind the cable. I will get it to the dealer as the truck still has warranty but have not had a chance yet.

You may want to check this as well. You will not be able to see it from the top with the hood open. you have to look from the bottom side. There is very little room to move this cable away from the flange. The natural curve of the cable coming out of the firewall will want to make it curve toward the flange on the exhaust.

Let me know what you guys find or if someone has already seen this.

 

Thanks for the heads-up. I think this could be quite dangerous.

 

i just had to put a new cable on mine. it was not touching the exhaust. but it was binding. i was haveing hard time shifting. it was stiff. maybe the heat got to it. not sure. but it is close to that manifold. has been working fine now for about two weeks.

 

Checked mine today, built 3/01. It has a corregated metal tube over the shift cable in the area of the exhaust flange. Looks to be trying to act as a heat shield, but obviously not enough if it is touching the exhaust.