I was driving home just now and pulled up on my shifter and it slid up, not all the way out, but up - I pushed it back down.

Is this supposed to happen?

Whats the shifter resting in?

 

Sounds like a common problem coming, the end of the shifter wears out allowing it to move up.
Before it actually will pull out it will try to shift into 3rd and 5th at the same time getting jammed up in 5th.

 

What do I have to do?

Replace the shifter?

Cost, roughly?

 

It's been a long time since I dealt with this problem, trying to remember if the end is a separate part from the entire shifter.
Makes no difference though, I was told the parts were no longer availible separately.
Ended up buying an entire shifter from the junkyard.

The truck I was working on that had this problem had over 500k on it.

on edit: just ran into this

http://www.quad4x4.com/Dodge%2094-04%20NV4500.htm
Due to a worldwide shortage of genuine New Venture parts we will no longer be able to rebuild your NV4500 transmission as of December 2007.

 

I mean, is this just the start?

I tried to MAKE it go into both 3rd and 5th, but its shifting great.

Is this a necessary repair?

Shifter still feels tight.

Is it ok to ignore?

 

Digital, I would say it isn't wise to ignore, but I also would not freak out. Try and pull the boot far enough up to see exactly what is moving, shift easy until you get a resolution.

I don't have my 97 manual here, but it looks like there is a pin that goes into the side of the shift tower on the 97-back to prevent it from coming up.

I would probably start looking for a 98 up top plate that the shifter bolts on with 4 bolts, that way you will have the newer setup.

 

I thought I had the newer setup?

I'll have to get in there one of these days.

If I wasnt screwing around, I'd prolly have never noticed it.

 

Unless you have a newer tranny than the original, you have the old style, 97 was last year of it.

Easy enough to check, if the shifter is bolted on by 4 bolts on a cover plate, it is the new style, pin thru the side is old.