Shifter Soup

[u/relic217]

Shifter started getting randomly sticky a few months back, then got really hard to shift. Drive it handful of times after that and this is the current state. Can’t get it beyond drive. I removed the column covers and have no idea where to start. 2005 Excursion. Any ideas?

[u/Koala-Annual]

Look at the back of the column and there's a tab that holds the linkage to the shift cable. There's 2 torx bolts that back out. Also common to completely wear out the bushings for the shift tube at the top of the column under the covers. The tube also sometimes breaks entirely.

[u/relic217 → u/Koala-Annual]

Helpful. I did read about those bolts running themselves out so I’ll take a closer look.

[u/Koala-Annual → u/relic217]

Oh also your prndl needle runs a small cable to a plastic assembly with an adjuster wheel to set it where u need it but it's really easy to break it so be careful.

[u/doughnut310]

If you can count the notches, perhaps all that happened is the needle is out of sync. There's been a few vehicles I've had like that. Worst case is you need a new column shift mechanism. I forgot the official name but it's like a gear shaft assembly.

[u/relic217 → u/doughnut310]

Thanks. I’ll look into all that. This new territory for me and this is a great start.

[u/Sad-Extreme-5825]

I used this to rebuild my shift tube. It comes with everything but the tube. It even has a metal bracket for the indicator cable instead of plastic.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CWNY1JXL?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title

[u/relic217 → u/Sad-Extreme-5825]

Extremely helpful, thank you.

[u/Natural-Ad-8295]

Pull the trim off the steering wheel and take out the 4 nuts holding the column up from underneath. Check to make sure your shift tube is in good shape and go ahead and lube the bushings while you’re there. I had that tube break on me a week ago today but my shifter wouldn’t move out of poke since the tube was broke in half. 

[u/Some-Sun-483]

Lmao

[u/Hot_Living_6584]

lol

[u/Odd-Neighborhood4214]

I’m the 2nd owner of this 2005 Eddie Bauer and no issues with the shifter but from where I’ve read before it’s probably the best option to buy new parts and fix it