I have a 1999 Dodge Ram 2500 10 cyl 4x4 that has been parked for a long time. I got it running (fuel pump and spark plugs) and driving pretty great. It was shifting like a champ, I drove it around town a few times. Needed to jump on the highway, roughly 5 miles and hit around 55 MPH, parked it where I needed and now it won't go past reverse. The car will go from park to reverse and that is it. It engages into park and reverse just fine, but I can not physically move the shifter beyond reverse. The Brake lights come on when peddle is pressed.

After I inspected the problem and calibrated the shifter it now won't go in reverse either. So it is stuck in Park now.

I disconnected the shift linkage and I was able to move the part on top of the transmission that the linkage moves (forgot the name sorry) and it appears to move through all the gears.

Where should I start? I do have a 2000 Dodge ram 1500, that I can borrow parts for testing purposes. I already switched the brake sensor just in case, but no go.

 

With the linkage disconnected, can you turn the key on, and then shift?

Does your truck have the brake/shift interlock? (didn't think that came along till later....)

 

Do you mean shift via shifter? If so, No. With the linkage disconnected right outside of the transmission the shifter will still not move.

It does indeed have a brake interlock, but the brake light comes on and I switched it out with my other truck and it didn't change anything.

 

Then there should be a solenoid in the column that releases the shifter. Can you even see it? (doubt it....) Check and see if it is releasing... May have to tear the column down some....

 

Did you check the linkage on the frame where the shift rod comes down the firewall possible a rock had bounced in there, or fell in from top of frame and gotten lodged in there. The shift lock could have gone out or possibly the column main wire harness clip wiggled out enough that not getting a good connection.

 

I'll look into all of those suggestions this weekend. I'm thinking it may be a loose rock as suggested. The whole under carriage is caked in dirt and the highway drive was a bit bumpy do to bad tires. I had my mind locked on bad sensor/electronics and may have overlooked something as simple as a stuck rock.

Thanks!

 

did you recently take it mudding or anything? I second the look for a lodged rock or dirt packed in somewhere. I once drove through so much snow slush that when I got to where I was going I couldn't shift anywhere but into neutral. a few hours later after the slush melted off I was able to move the shifter.

 

I have fixed the Shifter, something in the column appears to be broken. Here is a link to images showing what is broken http://imgur.com/a/3Wu2h I don't know what that part is called. There seemed to be a piece of broken plastic right above it.


Unfortunately now it won't engage the transmission in any gear. I'm wondering if I reattached the linkage in the wrong gear or something. The bit on top of the Transmission that the linkage controls, what is the proper calibration for that as I fear that is where I went wrong.

 

I am not entirely sure that part is user-serviceable, may need to replace the entire column.

 

Now, I'm more worried about the transmission engaging. If I have to leave the shroud off to manually move that thing with a blade or screwdriver at least I still have a truck... That is, if the transmission would engage.