Column gear selector binding, stiff to operate

[pwilson45]

'99 EB with low mileage.
Gear shifter seems like it is binding. Bushings lacking lubrication.
Occasionally difficult to shift to "Park" position.

Local repair facility estimated 10 hours to fix plus parts.

Is there a way to lubricate the gear shift bushings without dismantling the truck?

Thanks,
Pete

 

[hammerhead fred]

'99 EB with low mileage.
Gear shifter seems like it is binding. Bushings lacking lubrication.
Occasionally difficult to shift to "Park" position.

Local repair facility estimated 10 hours to fix plus parts.

Is there a way to lubricate the gear shift bushings without dismantling the truck?

Thanks,
Pete

Had the same issue with my 98.
Eventually the shift indicator would not line up correctly.
Turns out the shift indicator wire kinks/binds which causes the shift handle to feel stiff. Took it do the dealer for repair.
Total cost to replace the PRND2L indicator was $150 (2008).

There's nothing much to the part but it's alot of work to get to it.
They busted the turn signal switch while they were performing the work and had to replace that at their expense.

pt#F65Z-7A110-AA goes for about $25 online or $50 dealer installed.

If you decide to fix it yourself it's worth a trip to the junk yard to have a look at what you're up against first.

 

[bedrck46]

there is a good video on you tube that shows how to replace the shift indicator
Was rather an easy fix

 

[catmandu]

Mine was a bad shift link down on the transmission, not anything up top (rusty crap all around the plastic parts).

 

[splintrcel]

its really not hard to get at the steering column. I have had it apart many times for odometer removal and heater core. There is just a cable that controls the gear indicator and then a heavier duty cable for the actually shifting of the tranny. I would imagine the cable couldnt be that hard to do as long as you have some patience and small hands lol. The steering wheel side should be easy but i dont know where the cable goes exactly after that.

 

[tedallen]

There are also a couple of two-piece plastic bushings that go around the shaft of the shifter lever (this shaft runs parallel to and on top of the steering column) that will wear out. I replaced those along with fixing the PRNDL2 cable and my issues were solved. It wasn't that bad of a job. As I recall, the connection point where this shaft terminates also tends to become loose over time resulting in a lot of play that causes issues with shifting as well. The worst part was getting down underneath the dash on my back to identify and replace the cable.