Err shiet... yeah mines only about that size too, I am thinking about the Repair Manual...

 

How difficult was it to move the shifter before it broke. My thought is the broken linkage may be due to a bigger problem in the tranny.

 

Thanks for the replies guys- you can email me things at sean_reiter@hotmail.com

The shifter was very tough to move-almost like some linkage had binded. I would not move into Park, so I dropped it all the way down to 1st and thats when there was a crunching sound.

I'm not sure it was the cable because the broken part is a metal rod that runs from the shifter to what looks like the cable assembly.

I sent the picture to a parts tech at the dealer and she came up with part 5057135AD

I haven't been to the dealer yet to see the part and verify that it is correct.

Once I get home I will take the dash apart further to get better access to the part.

 

Okay, now that I have everything taken apart, it appears as though the part is actually attached to the shifter cable. The cable comes through the firewall and then disappears through a plastic housing and then seems to come out the other side with my broken plastic piece attached to the end.

The parts guy at the dealership I went to tried to sell me a column since he said the parts wouldn't be available individually. He only had the diagram that shows the driver's side of the column, so I couldn't show him exactly where the part was.

In this photo, the shifter cable comes in from below where the green spring is. It travels through that part and then comes out the top, where you can see it. The black part at the end of the cable is where it broke.

http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/e...4/IMG00121.jpg

So, I guess I'll go to the parts department and see if that part is attached to the cable.

I suppose I could rig it with some JB Weld...haha


How big of a pain in the *** am I looking at to replace the cable?

 

Well, I just remembered that I have the Haynes manual and when looking at the section for removing the shift cable- sure enough there is a picture of my broken part and it is labeled as 'shift cable' and it attaches to the 'shift lever pin'.

Mystery solved.


Does anyone think that the cable would fall under the powertrain warranty? Likely not, but you never know I guess.

 

I dunno,but its worth a shot I guess since it shifts the transmission to the user desired gear range...

Glad ya figured it out, I wouldnt think it would be too hard to replace, besides re-routing the cable.

 

Well, of course the part isn't under warranty. And it gets better- There is a nationwide shortage of the cable. Apparently there are 90 of them on the way to Dodge from the manufacturer, but not yet distributed.

I found one at a dealer in NC, but have to pay stupid shipping charges for it.

AWESOME!!

 

Sounds like my kinda luck... sorry to hear man, glad ya found one atleast

 

Can you rig up a replacement piece thats better then the original? (you said its just the plastic end attachment right?)

I can't believe that broke Ive never heard of that, and a young vehicle too. I feel like the whole truck is made of cheap plastic.

My e-brake lever broke, its just a cheap plastic connection that connects the rod to the pull handle. I wound up making my own attachment out of sheet metal, and it will never ever break again.

Think you can repair it yourself? it will be out of sight so it will be out of mind.