sloppy auto shifter - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1tuff71 · 01-06-2015, 12:43 PM

Not sure this is in the right section but here goes. I have a sloppy auto trans shifter and would like to know whats worn out in the column that would cause this and whats the fix. Its kinda scary when I put in park and it feels like it could drop into reverse just from the vibration of the engine.

1tuff71 · 01-07-2015, 11:27 AM

WOW.Not one response here. Has no one ever worked on their column before ???? Really guys !!??

chevy_mike · 01-07-2015, 12:08 PM

I could be that having the post in the suspension forum might not be the best place for answers about the column shifter problem.

SeventyOne · 01-07-2015, 02:09 PM

Sounds like you have really worn detents. When you pull the lever forward and then down to go into reverse there is a notch on the bottom of the column you are skipping over. On a good column you can't just move the shifter from P to R without that pulling motion (unlike going from 2 to 1, etc).

So, engine off / wheels chocked, get in your engine compartment and have someone pull the shifter like they're going from P to R and find the notch that is the detent. You will probably have to pull the column and maybe its badly rounded. Not sure on if they remake the parts or if you'll have to swap in a good one from another column or if you can reweld to make it good again.

1tuff71 · 01-07-2015, 05:20 PM

Would it be better to have the column rebuilt ?

SeventyOne · 01-07-2015, 05:37 PM

Could be a nice time to upgrade to tilt if you don't have one. But first make sure the detents are the problem.

You say it "feels like" it could go from P to R without you moving the shifter. But does it? To test the detent just try pulling the shifter down from P to R without pulling it forward. Pulling it forward lets the column skip the detent so if it moved down without that pulling motion you have a problem. You can even test this without the engine running. Then I would do it with the engine running and your foot on the brake. If it doesn't actually move past the detent thats not your problem.

I would also test R to N. Theres another detent there.

01-06-2015, 12:43 PM	#1
1tuff71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 465	sloppy auto shifter Not sure this is in the right section but here goes. I have a sloppy auto trans shifter and would like to know whats worn out in the column that would cause this and whats the fix. Its kinda scary when I put in park and it feels like it could drop into reverse just from the vibration of the engine.

01-07-2015, 11:27 AM	#2
1tuff71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 465	Re: sloppy auto shifter WOW.Not one response here. Has no one ever worked on their column before ???? Really guys !!??

01-07-2015, 12:08 PM	#3
chevy_mike Never Ending Projects Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 3,836	Re: sloppy auto shifter I could be that having the post in the suspension forum might not be the best place for answers about the column shifter problem. __________________ . 1965 C10 Panel, Tiki Express http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=506580 SOLD 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often...

01-07-2015, 02:09 PM	#4
SeventyOne Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oakland, Ca Posts: 1,382	Re: sloppy auto shifter Sounds like you have really worn detents. When you pull the lever forward and then down to go into reverse there is a notch on the bottom of the column you are skipping over. On a good column you can't just move the shifter from P to R without that pulling motion (unlike going from 2 to 1, etc). So, engine off / wheels chocked, get in your engine compartment and have someone pull the shifter like they're going from P to R and find the notch that is the detent. You will probably have to pull the column and maybe its badly rounded. Not sure on if they remake the parts or if you'll have to swap in a good one from another column or if you can reweld to make it good again.

01-07-2015, 05:20 PM	#5
1tuff71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Clarkston, Michigan Posts: 465	Re: sloppy auto shifter Would it be better to have the column rebuilt ?

01-07-2015, 05:37 PM	#6
SeventyOne Registered User Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Oakland, Ca Posts: 1,382	Re: sloppy auto shifter Could be a nice time to upgrade to tilt if you don't have one. But first make sure the detents are the problem. You say it "feels like" it could go from P to R without you moving the shifter. But does it? To test the detent just try pulling the shifter down from P to R without pulling it forward. Pulling it forward lets the column skip the detent so if it moved down without that pulling motion you have a problem. You can even test this without the engine running. Then I would do it with the engine running and your foot on the brake. If it doesn't actually move past the detent thats not your problem. I would also test R to N. Theres another detent there.



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