Transmission problem after 3" Lift????

[Kamyoon]

When I pulled into a gas station yesterday, I could not get the car restarted since the I couldn't get the transmission in park. After moving the tires manually, rocking the truck back and forth, and trying to move the steering wheel, I managed to get it in park and drive to to a repair shop. After getting it in a parking spot, then again I couldn't get it into park or any other gear for that matter. The gear shift went completely limp. Since I was parked somewhat up hill, I placed a it in emergency brakes, and wheel-chocks behind the wheels. The shop cannot get to it until Friday. I am stock at home with no truck until then.

 

I had a 3" body installed on it 2 months ago, which I remember it included a steering wheel extension.

 

Has anyone had this issue before? Could the 3" lift mod. have caused this by putting to much load on the shift linkage due to the difference in angle at which it connects and operates? Can the oversized tires (285/70R16 on 16x10 wheels) be the reason?

 

Any info or suggestion on this will be greatly appreciated.....

[badass96z71]

sounds like whoever installed the body lift didn't make the necessary mods to the shift linkage, i believe the rod needs to be lenghtened

[AZ-Z71]

I don't know what year you have but on my 99 there is a steering column linkage piece but it is nothing more than a piece of tube to extend the steering column shaft and it keeps the same factory angle. I don't think that is your problem.

 

On my truck I did not have to adjust the transmission linkage and I have had the body lift for a little more than a year. Made sure when jacking the body up to do one jack pump then check everything before doing another jack pump.

 

It is possible that when you lifted the truck that the transmission linkage could have gotten bound up but I'm thinking you would have noticed things wrong with the tranny at that time and not 2 months later. The only thing I could come up with would be that the linkage may have gotten stretched from it getting binded and finally the cable broke which is way the shifter went limp.

[MountaineerTom]

This is on an automatic, right? I'm guessing it is since you said you were trying to get it into Park.

 

I doubt the steering shaft linkage had anything to do with it.

 

On the auto's, there is a big cable that runs under the truck cab, to the tranny, that is your shift cable. Sounds like it may be broken, partiallly broken, or trying to disconnect somewhere, since you were able to rock it back and forth and get it into park. You might check under your dash and truck to see if any of those connectionss have come loose, if you can get to your truck. You stated that your shifter went limp, one of the connections coming loose might be the cause of it.

 

Good luck.

[Kamyoon]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I remember I had to bend a bracket located right over or near the transmission covers bolts, to get access to the bolts and remove the cover, when changing transmission fluid and filter. This bracket I believe was holding the shift linkage. I bent back the bracket after installation. I am wondering either the linkage came loose from this location or bracket broke from bending stress. I was raining and I was in the middle of crowded down town Cleveland and I didn't get a chance to get under the truck and check it out.

 

If the repair shop doesn't fix it on Friday, I will have a crack at it.

 

Have Merry X-mas...

[JayMan]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I remember I had to bend a bracket located right over or near the transmission covers bolts, to get access to the bolts and remove the cover, when changing transmission fluid and filter. This bracket I believe was holding the shift linkage. I bent back the bracket after installation. I am wondering either the linkage came loose from this location or bracket broke from bending stress. I was raining and I was in the middle of crowded down town Cleveland and I didn't get a chance to get under the truck and check it out.

 

If the repair shop doesn't fix it on Friday, I will have a crack at it.

 

Have Merry X-mas...

Oh no!

 

That bracket holds the shift cable. Like MoutnineerTom sez, the auto trans shifter is cable operated. The bracket hooks directly to the auto trans linkage on the side of the trans.

 

This is not one of GM's better designs! Unless you have the Helm shop manual right in front of you, you wouldn't know to carefully remove or loosen that bolt for the bracket.

 

When servicing the auto, it's very important to remove or at least loosen the bolt that holds the bracket to the auto trans. I think it's a torx head bolt but I can't recall: I last serviced my auto about a year ago.

 

I fear the bracket is damaged and/or the shift cable is damaged. If you drive around with the trans shift linkage not exactly in the proper detent - say D or 3 - the trans will not shift right and could even overheat.