99 ford explorer gear shifter issue. Help.

[SgtDuck]

Last year I had the shift tube break and replaced it. This morning when I went to go from park into reverse there was a loud pop almost like something snapped where the shifter lowers into gear on the steering wheel. Now I can only get the car into park and kind of reverse. The gear shifter was also very stiff after replacing the shift tube last year but wasn’t anything too bad. But progressively got harder and worse over the last year.


The shifter is now wobbly but won’t go past reverse into any of the other gears.
I’ve yet to fully take apart the column to inspect it but have started it. However it’s now dark and freezing outside and without a garage I don’t really feel like doing it tonight.

Any ideas of if it’s the shift tube again? It’s acting similar to when it broke but not as badly. Or is it something like the shift cable that snapped?

Been trying to look it up while at work today and haven’t had much luck finding anything about a similar issue.

 

[wollimann]

freezing outside and without a garage

These cicumstances are not very comfortable for this project, no fan heater?
First look under the car and see if there is something wrong with the shift cable link.
Pop the shift cable off the transmission and try to switch the lever by hand.
If the gears are free, there's nothing wrong with the tranny.

Maybe the brake switch did not activate the solenoid to let the shift lever free.
Many steering bolts to take off and less space to work, tricky thing to change the shift tube.

Whish you luck to find the issue.

 

[410Fortune]

Usually the torx bolts just come loose and the bushings wear out

You need to drop the steering column and check it out

It takes a few minutes if you have some power tools
You will need a 7mm and 8mm for dash screws
Phillips for the 3 column shroud screws
10mm for the column to intermediate shaft bolt
14mm for the four column retainer nuts
Then remove the shift indicator from the bottom of instrument cluster (press two plastic tabs)
Detach the shift cable from the column shifter with long flathead screwdriver

Column is now out for inspection and shift tube rebuild as needed

I’ve done this in heated shop or in the dark on the side of the road during weather… when it needs to be fixed you just gotta do it