Hi just wondering if any of you have had the problem of the cable not being able to pick the right gear. But when i took the dash apart the look at it it started working again. Congused if its loose and working again or if its sliping inside the trans.

 

What do you mean by not picking the right gear? Do you mean when you go to Drive on the indicator, the transmission is in L2, or Reverse is Neutral? If so, your problem is just the string indicator for the P-R-N-D-2-1 gauge. Below the steering wheel, on the trim cover is a grommet that a simple string wraps around that drives the indicator. You can make adjustments by shortening/lengthening the string connection. Probably when you took the dash apart and reassembled, you put this trim piece back in a different spot (maybe it was loose).

 

when it was in drive it said it was in nuetral but it wouldnt go into park but then when i shut it off and looked at that string it started working again. I was wondering if my cable is starting to go or if it was just a freak thing

 

Sounds like your linkage from the steering column to the transmission is maladjusted along with the string indicator. If you have a factory service manual, it tells you how to adjust the linkage arm.

 

All i did was but that string back in place and it started working again. Is that the end to my problem or will it happen again because it would even go into park before i put that string back

 

The string is simply the indicator....but would not keep the truck from going into park. That would be the linkage. You didn't say what year and whether 2wd or 4wd, but most have a linkage that's on the steering column just below the master cylinder near the firewall in the engine bay. That linkage on the steering shaft connects to a rod, that connects to another rod, that connects to the shift lever on the transmission. That linkage controls the gear, and it can become misadjusted or the bushings wear at the pivot points of the rods. Inspect that linkage, especially the horizontal rod off the frame rail...there's a bushing at both ends and often over time these deteriorate and cause shifting into gear problems.

Attached is a picture of mine...it's missing the bushing on the right at the transmission and the circle shows the bushing on the left at the frame rail.

 

If the indicator is off (mine was) you will have to shift based on feel rather than relying on the indicator. Just know that one move is reverse, two is neutral, three is D range etc.

If your indicator moves but is not accurate you will have to take the front bezel off the cluster and slide the indicator into the correct position. If your indicator does not move it means the string either 1) came off the column or 2 broke. To get to that you will have to pull the lower column surround at the dashboard. If it's broken then you have to find another bit of string that will work and the cluster will have to come out too.

Steve