I have a 2000 1500 5.2. Recently the truck shifts into 3rd at around 3000 or so rpm then it shifts hard. I've read to check the tv cable and make sure it's adjusted correctly. How do i know if it's correct or not? All fluids are good. No leaks or drips. Confused and quite frustrated.

 

Adjust it so there's no slack in it. You don't want it so tight that it's pulling the lever on the side of the trans., or so loose that there's slack at the connection to the adjuster.
Disconnect the cable under the hood and pull it and feel it pull the spring loaded lever, you'll get a feel for it.

 

gotcha. thank you. I may have tightened it to tight but it seems to be running fine so I don't want to mess with it.

 

Running it tighter than 'proper', raises shift points, and firms up shifts a bit. If you like the way it drives, leave it. It isn't going to damage anything.

 

awesome! would that happen to have anything to do with not always starting in park? it happens so infrequently. when it does, all I have to do is tap the shifter lever up and it starts. its not an issue, because I know how to deal with it when it happens. thanks again.

 

Nope, TV cable has nothing to do with that. Sounds like you have a little slop in your shift linkage, which isn't unusual either. May wanna have a look at it, maybe adjust it up a bit, or, blow it off till it becomes more annoying.

 

so far I have dealt with it. its not an issue really, just something to be aware of. how do I fix the shift linkage? I hear its an easy thing to do, but have no idea how. I want to learn.

 

Its pretty simple. Just some rods, and plastic bushings. The bushings like to rot out, and break, and give some slop in the linkage. Crawl under there, have a look, and see what things look like. The procedure for adjusting the linkage is in the service manual.

 

Thank you

 

well, the tv cable did fix it. its like its stuck in second and not in drive. I can put it in neutral and back in drive and its fine. hopefully I can get it figured out, and its not a transmission problem