Transmission won't engage

[Mr. Man]

Ms. D went to take the MM to work today and the MM won't engage into any gear. Gear selector will slide into any gear but won't engage that gear.

Car worked fine on Sunday and I heard no unusual noises or felt no unusual vibrations or anything like that.


Completely miffed, any ideas? I don't ever recall any discussion of an engagement fuse or anything.

Any help or pointer would be greatly appreciated. :)

[Bradley G]

I'm WAG'ing the shifter cable is not actuating the lever on the transmission.
I hope it is an easy fix Eric

[MOTOWN]

^^^^That was my first thought, i would look at the trans shifter cable to be certain its engaging.

[Haggis]

Mice.......

[burt ragio]

Maybe the wife has been out pulling big Gs from traffic lights & killing ricers. All joking aside hope its an easy fix.

[slickster]

Vehicle speed sensor.

[Mr. Man]

I'm WAG'ing the shifter cable is not actuating the lever on the transmission.
I hope it is an easy fix Eric


^^^^That was my first thought, i would look at the trans shifter cable to be certain its engaging.

After a bit of thought as 6am is not my usual routine I began to think about the shifter cable as well as a possible culprit.

The first silly question is where would I look to see if it is loose? I'm making a blind assumption the cable is visible from under the car but from which side? If that looks OK is it possible the cable is loose at the shifter end? I suppose getting to that is a disassembly of the center console PITA. Where is JustBob when you need him most:lol:.

I have very limited tools and no jack but I think I may be able to borrow one and some stands as well. If a visual on my part turns up nothing obvious how would one get it towed to the dealer? Would dragging it a short distance onto the roll-off damage it? Then I wonder how they would get it off the truck and onto a lift without doing anymore damage. This seems like a bad issue to have. I'll check the cable as soon as the weather clears, no sense in getting the boogie-woogie flu on top of it..

Thanks for the tips guys and if you have any more I'm amenable.:)


No mice Barn the neighbors cats kill everything.;)

[Curless]

If you have to tow it, most good towing companys have dollys or smart enough drivers that they could slip under the car and move the lever into neutral.

Does the shifter "feel" as if its hooked to something or does it "feel" different than normal when you move it?

[SC Cheesehead]

I'm thinkng cable as well. PM 03mmmonroe, he may be able to give you a quick answer.

[Mr. Man]

If you have to tow it, most good towing companys have dollys or smart enough drivers that they could slip under the car and move the lever into neutral.

Does the shifter "feel" as if its hooked to something or does it "feel" different than normal when you move it?
It slides very freely and there is no notchy feel as you slip through the gear selections.(P,R,N,D,etc) I would say it feels like it's not connected to anything.

[Comin' in Hot]

Eric if you can't figure it out, give me a call later today and maybe I could come by and help out. I can bring a jack and stands as well as tools

[Mr. Man]

Eric if you can't figure it out, give me a call later today and maybe I could come by and help out. I can bring a jack and stands as well as tools
Thanks Derek. :up: I think today is going to be a wash out as far as the weather goes but I will definitely keep your offer in mind. Perhaps if I can't figure it out maybe this weekend or next. We'll play it by ear. :)

[Ms. Denmark]

Eric if you can't figure it out, give me a call later today and maybe I could come by and help out.I can bring my Black trilogy for Ms. D to drive, some jack and stands as well as tools. Fixed it for ya. ^^^^^You are the best!!

[Mr. Man]

Well got down on my hands and knees (seemed easier to do 20 years ago) and peeked under the SB. Nothing hanging or any obvious damage so I guess it's on to plan B. Find a jack and lift it up and crawl under it for a look see. Checked the transmission fluid too and it seems full, so going to temporarily eliminate that as a cause. Which side of the transmission is the linkage on?

[Krytin]

Driver's side.

[Mr. Man]

Driver's side.
Thank you!:)

[fastblackmerc]

Remove the center gauge panel.

Remove the center console cover and interior.

Remove the cover that contains the cup holder / shift surround.

You should be able to see the shifter and cable.

[Blackened300a]

There is a nut that holds a bracket to connect the cable to the linkage. Hopefully that backed out and it's that simple. Other wise even with a snapped cable it's no that bad of a job just will suck laying on your back to do it.

[Mr. Man]

There is a nut that holds a bracket to connect the cable to the linkage. Hopefully that backed out and it's that simple. Other wise even with a snapped cable it's no that bad of a job just will suck laying on your back to do it.

Well got myself out to the car and disassembled the interior console and everything is hunky dory.

Got my fat self down on the ground and turned the wheel as to give me a bit more stretching room and have discovered the cable is snapped at what I believe Paul was referring to in his post. Seems Ford decided not to go stainless steel on the exposed part of the cable as they apparently don't believe in corrosion.

Off to the dealer to find out how far I need to bend over to buy the part and fix myself or just have them do it. I think AAA will tow the car there as it's not to far.

[Blackened300a]

Off to the dealer to find out how far I need to bend over to buy the part and fix myself or just have them do it. I think AAA will tow the car there as it's not to far.

Tommy from Sparta can get you the part cheaper in case your local dealer decides to charge you top tier list price.

[Mr. Man]

Tommy from Sparta can get you the part cheaper in case your local dealer decides to charge you top tier list price.
Back from the dealer and I'm not as sore as I thought I might be. $54 for the cable which is way less than I was thinking. Roughly $200 for the labor. They say 2 hours at most. So $250ish for the dealer to fix it. Got to check with the boss to see what she wants to do.

[Blackened300a]

Back from the dealer and I'm not as sore as I thought I might be. $54 for the cable which is way less than I was thinking. Roughly $200 for the labor. They say 2 hours at most. So $250ish for the dealer to fix it. Got to check with the boss to see what she wants to do.


$250 and you don't have to jack the car up and lay on the ground to change it? PAY IT!

[Mr. Man]

$250 and you don't have to jack the car up and lay on the ground to change it? PAY IT!
Probably will. The old back ain't what it used to be. Wish I had a lift. Waiting for the boss to get her 2 cents but I know she will say it's up to me as long as it gets fixed soon.:)

[Spectragod]

Back from the dealer and I'm not as sore as I thought I might be. $54 for the cable which is way less than I was thinking. Roughly $200 for the labor. They say 2 hours at most. So $250ish for the dealer to fix it. Got to check with the boss to see what she wants to do.

Plus the tow! Certainly there is a member nearby that can help you for less.:confused:

[Mr. Man]

Plus the tow! Certainly there is a member nearby that can help you for less.:confused:
We belong to AAA so I think the tow maybe gratis.

[Pat]

It slides very freely and there is no notchy feel as you slip through the gear selections.(P,R,N,D,etc) I would say it feels like it's not connected to anything.


Eric, your probably right, mine has a distinct connected feeling.

Oh wait, the problem has already been identified. Good. Think I'll get under my car and check the cable and apply some kind of liquid cure, to the cable that is.

[RF Overlord]

To save $250 I'd do it on my back in my driveway in a snowstorm.

[Krytin]

Probably will. The old back ain't what it used to be. Wish I had a lift. Waiting for the boss to get her 2 cents but I know she will say it's up to me as long as it gets fixed soon.:)


New house is gonna have that^^^!

From one big old guy to another - +1 on paying the dealer!

[Da Dark Jedi]

Back from the dealer and I'm not as sore as I thought I might be. $54 for the cable which is way less than I was thinking. Roughly $200 for the labor. They say 2 hours at most. So $250ish for the dealer to fix it. Got to check with the boss to see what she wants to do.


Whats the part number for the cable???

[justbob]

It's your shifter cable. :D

Sorry, been working 12's

Yawwwwnn. Zzzzzzzz

Sent from my Ally while ruling the world from my toilet.

[Bradley G]

What do I Win?:stupid:
It's your shifter cable. :D

Sorry, been working 12's

Yawwwwnn. Zzzzzzzz

Sent from my Ally while ruling the world from my toilet.

[Mr. Man]

What do I Win?:stupid:
Hey Brad it's your lucky day how 'bout a box of XL latex gloves:D:P

[Mr. Man]

Whats the part number for the cable???
No idea. I'll post it when I get te part.

[Seneca]

Shifter cable install party at your place???:D