ju1cy
New Member
- Joined
- January 1, 2013
- Messages
- 6
- Reaction score
- 0
- City, State
- Bowling Green, KY
- Year, Model & Trim Level
- 1999 Ford Explorer 4x4
Last Friday on the way home from work I noticed my shift lever was extremely hard to use but I didn't have any issues other than that. Yesterday I go to leave for work and now it wont start. I knew it wasn't a battery issue but I left in my wifes car as I suspected the shift lever to be the culprit. When I got home I jammed the shift lever toward park and was able to get it to start and run. I hopped on here and read the threads regarding the loose bolt on the bracket. I checked the bolts earlier and they are both solid where they should be. My issue sounds a slightly bit different. When this problem started the gear level was extremely hard to maneuver from position to position. When in (p) it is in Reverse. I've taken the bottom of the steering wheel off and the metal plate behind it. When I move the lever I can see the tiny thread cable pull the lever. I can see the bracket rotate and connect parts also seem to move. I was wiggling the shifter gently with the keys engaged and the break pressed while doing my visual check and after around a minute of gentle moving something popped. Everything that I can see at this point looks fine but the gear shifter has changed it's behavior now. Now Park to Reverse and visa versa is still extremely hard. Every other position is reached with 0 to little resistance and the reverse indicator lights seem to be stuck on in all positions. Any ideas?