Hi all,

I have a 1998 Dodge 1500 4x4 5.9L. My problem is that the needle indicating which gear you are in has stopped working. It still shifts into all the gears it's just the needle that is not moving. If I pull the lever all the way over to 1 then the needle moves a little bit but not even as far as the R.

I just finished installing a remote starter yesterday, and the needle worked fine before that (although it was a bit sluggish moving when it was very cold).
I can't for the life of me figure out what I could have bumped or anything that could have caused this. Do any of you have any idea of what I can look for?

Eb

 

Remove the panel under the steering wheel ...on the steering column there should be a black plastic bracket of sorts with a metal tab and a steel cable hooked to it . you can bend that tab down to move your shift indicator . Sorry if this is confusing but there is a DIY guide on here somewhere...i'll see if I can find it for you ...it has pictures . Worked for me .

 

Welcome to the forum!

There is a cable that is connected to the indicator in the dash just below ignition key where column meets the dash.
Could of popped off the tab.
I dont have a pic but I do remember seeing one recently that another member posted, hopefully they will chime in & post it.

edit, I was a bit slow, wife yakkin at me lol

 

Yeah I looked and can't find the DIY ....it is really simple.....the cable runs down from your gauge cluster on the left side and up and over the column and attaches on the right side....the metal tab where the cable attaches is the adjustment ....just put the truck into drive while off and bed that tab until the indicator reads drive ....then move to another gear and bend it till it is correct...... just takes a little fine bending to get it perfect . You more than likely pushed on it in an upwards direction while feeding wires around the column ...it's probably still attached . Good luck

 

Thank you very much for the replies. You are correct, I did somehow manage to knock the plastic part out of the holder. Popped it back in and it works perfectly again. Thanks for saving me a lot of time trying to track down the problem in -20 weather lol (I REALLY was not looking forward to that).

As an aside, mine seems to have a large white plastic screw for fine-tuning the adjustment of the needle. I screwed it in and out and it worked to get it perfectly centered.

Thanks again guys I really appreciate the help.

 

Not bad, from posting to repaired in less than 30 min
Faster than I can get pizza most of the time lol

 

I should have ordered one before I started, then I would have been all set when I was done lol

Also, thanks for the welcome RM_Indy

 

Great to hear....gotta like the quick and easy fixes!