Need some help here folks. The gear selector on my truck is sticking in park and requires ALOT of force to put into drive. I was able to get it to the dealer this am. The dealer checked the "mechanism" under the steering column and also the cable and states that's not the problem. They believe it is something in the tranny. Right now, I am out $65 and they say it will be another $200 to get into the tranny to diagnos the problem. Possibly $800-$900 to fix? Any ideas as to what the problem is and how much to fix it. I am at 78,000 miles so no warrenty. I have not given them the go ahead to fix it.

 

A buddy just had this same problem.... dealer ended up replacing the valve body.

 

A couple of things , unless you know / trust your dealer .
Then also , if you have a warranty , find a known good one .
After the above , start finding an independent shop in your area , that knows these trucks .
As for telling you how to fix it , we need more detail on what is happening & under what conditions .
Its common that if there is slight pressure on the wheels [ hills ect. ] that this will happen .

 

Do a search of the archives. I know this has been asked before, but I'm to lazy to look for you . Mine has done the same since I bought it, but has not gotten worse.

 

Mine does this also.

Someone mentioned setting the brake then putting it in park, it has helped.

 

There's a safety interlock that's part of the valve body. Supposedly, when you press down on the brake, it released the interlock. Mine has that problem when it's cold.

Don't try and force it, that just breaks things. Press down hard on the brake pedal, pause for about 2 seconds, then shift.

For some people, it's improper - or no - use of the parking brake. If you're on a hill, set the parking brake and then shift to Neutral. Take your foot off the brak and let the truck settle into the parking brake - like 2-3 seconds. Then shift to park. That takes the weight of the truck off the parking pawl.

If your parking brake isn't adjusted properly, over night it might move enough to put the weight back on the pawl.

 

Sure does sound like the park neurtral safety switch. Should be easy to track down.

 

Sorry I haven't been back to check the replies, I appreciate the responses. Here is where I am at with it. I took the truck to a tranny shop today and had them look at it. They seem to feel the problem is up under the steering column. The gear selector sticks in park with the parking brake on or off, on a flat surface, on a hill, pointing up or down the hill. It is just plain sticking no matter how I try to put it in gear. I can depress the brake pedal a little, allot, doesn't seem to make a difference. I know what you mean about parking on a hill without the parking brake but this has a different feel. There is no clunk coming from the tranny. Also, when it is out of park and in gear, the selector doesn't feel like it's "locked in". It moves from neutral, drive, and into low gears with very little effort, a slight bump and it's out of gear. Maybe it is something in the valve body. Is there no way of eliminating the valve body as the problem without dropping the pan? It's gonna cost $200 to check and that might not be the problem. I'm thinking of going back to the dealer tomorrow since they already have my $67 and see if they will at least change the interlock system or refund my money if I go somewhere else and that turns out to be the problem.

 

Mine has done the same since I bought it, but has not gotten worse.[/QUOTE]

Yep. Same here and has gotten much worse to the point I am afraid of getting stranded.

 

If you can find nothing obvious on the interlock and cable adjustment its probably a VB linkage problem.

Pop the cable off the shift lever at the trans and test to see if you shifter will work smoothly and not bind. Its a simple connection you can just pop off and on as needed. This will isolate it to the VB or linkage.

If the shifter works fine with the cablke disconnected at the trans, its the old rooster comb and detent ball problem. Some of the detent ***** ended up wearing too much and they pop out so far they lock the detent comb into park and they are TOUGH to get out of park. If you can find the parts replacing them is relatively easy and will save having to buy a reman VB.

Or just get a good VB and solve other problems.

 

That makes sense. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

 

If the shifter works fine with the cablke disconnected at the trans, its the old rooster comb and detent ball problem. Some of the detent ***** ended up wearing too much and they pop out so far they lock the detent comb into park and they are TOUGH to get out of park. If you can find the parts replacing them is relatively easy and will save having to buy a reman VB.
Detent ball, that's what I was thinking of, but couldn't spit out. There's lots in the archives about this.