1996 Dodge Ram Van B2500 5.2 engine with automatic transmissoin.

The shifter cable came loose from the post on the shift lever on the side of the transmission. It just pops off every few days and makes you crawl under it to pop it back on the post. Even though it is very easy to fix and only takes 30 seconds, my wife says she burns her arm on the muffler when I make her fix it. ;-) We are looking for a more permanent solution.

I took a picture of it and am wondering it there is a set screw on it that needs to be tightened?



Is the arrow in my picture pointing to a set screw? Is it an allen head? I can't really tell from my angle and wanted to be sure before I messed it up trying to fix it. The auto repair place told me it would be $200 plus parts.

Can you help me with any info? Thanks

 

Never seen a set screw on mine. I have mine held down with heavy steel wire going over the top of the cable attachment and under the stud post. It had been like that well before I bought the van in 08 and recently removed the trans because of a leak and used new wire to reattach. Don't go to tight or it will jam up or break the wire. It will need a little play as the linkage moves back and forth.

I believe it use to have a snap inside the nylon bushing that has worn out over time.

 

Thanks for your post about the wire. The Aamaco place here in town wanted $435.00 to replace the cable. The Dodge dealership wanted $136.00 just for the cable.

I stopped by the hardware store and bought a few Industrial Safety Springs.

Bingo. Holds it in place and allows for lots of play for the shifter to work. I'll let you know how it works out.

 

Please post some pics of it in place please. Others may want to try that as well. Also if it does work then it saves time by not having to cut the wire when you do have work done in the future.

 

Here is the photo of the Industrial Safety Pin (ISP) in place. It crosses over the shifter cable and under the tranny lever. There is lots of play in it -- and it needs some of that play -- but with it hooked this way, the ISP won't come off and the shifter cable can't come up high enough to come off the post on the lever.

One week of use -- working as intended. I spent $0.20 and saved $435.00.

 

UPDATE: 9 months of use and not a single problem with the ISP on the shifter. A perfect fix for someone who doesn't want to shell out hundred$.

 

Thank you for sharing this! The same part of the shift cable just broke in the wife's 2008 Avenger this morning. And my research thus far says the same thing; you can't buy that little part, only the whole cable. Going to find some industrial safety pins...

 

In that first photo it appears the it's a plastic bushing that snaps into/out of a metal enclosure. You might find that bushing at the auto parts store where commonly broken replacement parts at stocked out on the aisle. It could even be a replacement bushing for the windshield wiper mechanism housed inside of the vehicle's cowl or apron just below the windshield; it's an intermediary connection between the wiper motor and the arms.