My 1997 5.4L automatic is giving me issues. Whether I'm going from park to drive, to reverse or wherever,....the shifting is hard and grinding like. It's not a noise grinding,.......it's a resistance in moving the lever. I'm not sure if it's a linkage issue or a tranny issue. Has anyone experienced this, or maybe heard of this ?

Help !!

 

Click the tan CV in my signature & look thru the Steering Column album. It could be the U-clamps that hold the shifter down, or the screws on the front of the shifter that hold the bracket for the cable. The shifter tube is known to break if it's left loose too long, so don't abuse it. There are upgraded parts available.

 

Steve thanks for the reply. I just finished checking the U brackets, plus the bracket with the 2 screws at the end of the assembly and all is tight. Not sure what else to check.
I will say this though,.....the other night when leaving work, the truck would not start. Battery was strong and then I went ahead and made sure the shifter was in deed all the way up in the park position (It's done this before) and walla,.....the truck started. Well when I went to put the truck in gear then that one time it was like butter. But after that it went back to the binding way again. That's why I believe it's something in the column area. I'm wondering if the column itself is screwed up.

 

IIRC, there was a recall for bad shifter cables on some trucks. Call the nearest dealer with your VIN & have them check for any outstanding FSAs.

To diagnose it, pop the end of the cable off the ball on that bracket at the front of the shifter. Then see if the shifter moves smoothly. Also, disconnect the bottom end & try to push/pull the cable to see if it's binding. This is for older trucks, but it's virtually identical to yours:

 

Also, there have been one or two reports of several of the Torx-head screws that mount parts of the shifter mechanism coming loose and causing shifter problems. Most apparent symptom was an inability to reliably hit the PARK position.

I'll see if I can dig up the relevent diagrams.

Steve

 

He already said he checked those in post #3.

 

If you post your VIN I'll tell you if you have any recalls and see if there's any messages for shifter trouble..

 

I just spent the last 30 minutes messing with truck again, and what I did this time was disconnect the cable from the bracket. Well when the cable was disconnected, the shifting at the column was better the smooth as butter. So I know my steering column is ok ! (That's a good thing).

I just called a local shop that also specializes in Tranny's, and he said it could possibly be the cable. I'm gonna run it by his shop tomorrow and he's gonna take a look for me. He said that everything I did so far (THANK YOU GUY'S) is what he would have checked first. I'll let ya'll kn ow sometime before noon tomorrow on what he thinks. He did say that he's replaced a few cables with the same symptoms and then all was well.

Anyone know what a cable change run's ?

AGAIN THANKS GUYS !!

 

A little less than an hour labor and cost of the cable. Sorry, AllData didnt have part price..

 

I dropped off my truck and I'm thinking it's the shift lock solenoid because I'm not hearing any clicking noises when I press on the brake. If I hit the brake kinda hard in succession then it seems to shift a little easier. I'll know more tomorrow (Monday).

 

Well I got the call from the shop and they are saying my problem is the neutral safety switch . They said the bill will be about $250.00 I'll pick it up some time late this afternoon.

 

Technically, that truck doesn't have an NSS - it has a DTR (digital transmission range) switch.

 

Picked up the truck and it's as smooth as butter. Thank God it's fixed. Total cost was $239.00 The part that was replaced was the big black switch assembly on the outside of the tranny that the cable attaches to.

Thanks for everybody's help.

 

That's the DTR (MLPS).