My truck, 2001 Dodge Ram 2500, a former Arizona Highway Patrol. Probably used for pulling over semis at high speeds. It has the V10 engine with automatic transmission and over drive. Heres my problem. At 138,413 miles it wont go into park. I crawled under, removed the linkage that connects to the arm that goes into the transmission. Get back into the extended cab. move the column shifter into park, now I can remove my key! I crawl back under the truck, I see where the linkage is at in the park position, and the arm that goes into the transmission, not even close, about 1" away. I click the transmission arm all the way forward, which should be 1st. (which lines up when I move the column shifter to 1st position). Moving the transmission arm towards the back, I count 5 resting points, thats all the further back it will go. (I believe there should be 6 resting points). My truck is only a year old to me. I hope you guys can find a solution that I can possibly fix without removing the transmission!
Thanks so much!
JerryS

 

I don't know what transmission you have, but I can PM you something that may help determins what the problem is. The troubleshooting section may help.

 

Probably a 48RE trans. Four speed automatic. Overdrive does not have a separate detent. You have a button on the end of the shifter that will disable it.

Put the transmission in neutral, (linkage disconnected), put the shifter in neutral. Hook it back up. If there are sloppy parts in the shift linkage, replace them. Should be golden.

 

47re........

 

47, 48.... Not really much different. (although, given my druthers, i'druther have the 48....... ) rest of the info still applies.

 

True.... And for the OP, the five detents you feel is correct.

 

Read the following article. It may not apply to you 100%, but it can give you some general idea of what you are dealing with. Same sort of problem, different vehicle.

http://www.handymanlyness.com/archiv...93_Dakota.html

 

Thanks for the great pictures. (I hope this isn't a stupid question). There are 6 positions on the column (P,R,N,D,2,1). I count only 5 resting points on the transmission arm, which you say is correct, and looking at the photos confirms that. How does park work? When the column is in the 1st position, and the transmission is in the 1st position, the linkage is alinged. when the column is in the reverse position, and the trasmission is in the reverse position, the linkage is alinged (which is as far as it will go). No loose bushing problems here. But when I place the column into park, the linkage is 1" away from the transmission arm is. I'm trying to see what might be broken to keep the transmission arm from comming back to line up with the linkage. I was told by a local transmission shop that there is a cotter pin that broke and is causing the problem. Maybe this cotter pin is back further in the transmission by the park prawl arm.
Thanks to all for your help.

 

Seems to me you are forgetting to count the position the lever is in when you start. Let's say you have the lever in 1st, that's one, then you move it and feel the five spots. That adds up to six. Check this way. Put the park brake on, remove linkage from tranny, put lever in what you assume is 1st. Then move the lever all the way in the opposite direction as far as it will go. get up and release P brake and see if you can push the truck. If not, it's in park and there is something wrong with the linkage or in the steering column.

 

Yes, the tranmission arm all the way to the front, which would be 1st. I count as 1 resting position. So 4 more resting positions and it appears to be in reverse, which lines up with the R on the column. In this position the truck can still be moved forward and backwards.