"A Dime's worth of advice"

[Tmax]

After driving 520 miles and 20 miles short of my destination,I hit heavy traffic.Sometimes while standing still,I have the habit of shift in to park.This is what I did this time as well.Then I wanted to move ,but all of sudden could not change gear.The lever got very hard to move,then after forcing a little,stuck in neutral.
With the help of two guys pushed the truck off to the side,then started figuring out the problem ..This is what I found.....

 

[ptschram]

BTDT, but mine was a mini-Bic lighter. I couldn't shift into low gear. Took forever to figure it out.

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

I had the same problem. My kids would find cool rocks, the wife would place them on the nubby mat, and they'd find their way past the torn shifter film.

Gives a new meaning to rock crusher transmission.

 

[Thomas1968]

It's found money.......quickly put it in the bank and invest.

 

[D Chapman]

Do you own a vacuum cleaner?

 

[gmookher]

hahhah!!! "vaccum cleaner" LOL

glad you were able to 'fix' the problem

 

[Bahnstorm]

I love stories like this. Always a good reminder to check the simple stuff first. When things like this happens my emotions usually go from shocked to pissed I spent a lot of time trying to fix something that was simple, then to relieved that the solution to the problem doesn't require a ton of $$.
Thanks for posting.

 

[jackp]

After driving 520 miles and 20 miles short of my destination,I hit heavy traffic.Sometimes while standing still,I have the habit of shift in to park.This is what I did this time as well.Then I wanted to move ,but all of sudden could not change gear.The lever got very hard to move,then after forcing a little,stuck in neutral.
With the help of two guys pushed the truck off to the side,then started figuring out the problem ..This is what I found.....

I've always shifted an auto into Park when I'll be standing still for a period of time too. Someone told me years ago that this was better for the transmission....

Just wondering - can anyone substantiate that shifting into Park actually IS better.

 

[Meisterbr?wn]

It's found money.......quickly put it in the bank and invest.

No, no, no, no. Follow the old adage: "Invest a third, save a third and spend a third."

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Do you own a vacuum cleaner?

I had to dissassemble the shifter to find the problem. (ha.)

I took the opportunity to grind off the plunger on the gearshift lockout
solenoid.
Made it worth the time.

 

[dling]

I've always shifted an auto into Park when I'll be standing still for a period of time too. Someone told me years ago that this was better for the transmission....

Just wondering - can anyone substantiate that shifting into Park actually IS better.

Never heard it before but it makes sense, you are basically taking the load off of your transmission and engine, same as if you were to shift into neutral. While in drive your engine and transmission are engaged and under load against your brakes, so its kinda like a constant tug-o-war but. This being said I cant imagine that miniscule amount of strain being able to increase the life of engine/tranny

 

[dling]

I had to dissassemble the shifter to find the problem. (ha.)

I took the opportunity to grind off the plunger on the gearshift lockout
solenoid.
Made it worth the time.

Does tis explain all the sawdust/ruffles remnants on your console?

 

[Two Cold Soakers]

Nope. took out the whole shifter "cockpit", removed the split ring retainer, took the solenoid to the grinder in the basement. I cleaned out all the dog hair, spilled coffee, rocks (now sand), regreased and rtv'd the cockpit, and changed the stove element.

 

[BlackAndTan]

Thanks. OK, those of us who need to have our vehicles detailed know who we are. :drool:

 

[SDD2]

My son dug out about $4 in change from around the transmission shifter when I pulled the console to put in the CDL linkage ... there were also 2 keys and other junk ... I hadn't owned it that long, so the previous owner was pretty sloppy ... it's amazing the thing actually still worked ...

 

[robertf]

I had a torn shift indicator and on a roadtrip someone else drove my truck while I was out and dropped a set of nail clippers in there. It tore up all the wiring for the shift position indicator switches and left me stranded in the middle of the road while I was doing a 3 point turn. Had to drive all the way home shifting with a screwdriver on the solenoid lockout.