Big tranny problem?

[brianca]

I pulled into the garage this morning at work, and the C4 wouldn't shift into park. The column shifter would hit a wall at N. I monkeyed with it for a few seconds and managed to get it to not be able to go north of D. So now I can't get it to get into N so I could at least start it.

I haven't had time to look at what's going on and see if there is something binding or physically blocking the shifter, but my obvious fear is that this is something internal to the C4. I don't think I'll be able to get a good look at it until tomorrow morning when I can come back in some garage clothes and take a good look at it, but I wanted to see if this was something that you guys knew what was happening.


thanks, break it to me gently.

 

[brianca]

No one? Is this a new one? Maybe it is just something stupid blocking the shifter then.

 

[Broncobowsher]

I don't think this is that major. It isn't that common, but it should be easy to find. You will just have to mess around and figure out if it is in the column or in the transmission. Just unhook the linkage from the transmission and try shifting it in park. This will tell you what direction to look.

If it is in the transmission, don't worry, you should be able to take the pan off and figure it out without removing the transmission. I am guessing that it being something that actually requires removal and disassambly of the transmission to only be in the 5% range. I am guessing something wierd in the column. But not being there and only listening to your discription, it is hard to tell.

 

[SaddleUp]

It's probably a linkage issue external to the tranny.

 

[michael084]

As was said probably linkage, unless you are unlucky like me and there is a broken band inside and all sorts of stuff jammed where it wasn't supposed to be. It was time for a rebuild in my case.

 

[airman]

Block your wheels while under there. I bet you knew that but I want to be able to sleep at night.

Jeff in AZ

 

[brianca]

Heh. I'll take care of it. Trust me, I don't want to get run over more than you don't want me to.

Now that I've had some time to think about it, I agree that it's probably a linkage issue. I rebuild this thing a little over a year ago, and there doesn't seem to be much that could be causing my issue. I hate the idea of having to crack it open and drain it in the garage here at work this weekend if it gets that far, but maybe there's just something binding on the linkage and it'll be no big deal.

Thanks for the advice. I'll let you know what I find out tomorrow.

Maybe the old C4 heard me talking about looking for a 700R4 in the next couple of months.

 

[brianca]

Although sometimes I wish it would just run over me and kill me quickly instead of the slow death it's giving me.

So I finally got up there and started messing with it. I pulled the linkage to the shifter and it still wouldn't shift, so it's a problem in the tranny. I pulled the pan and it's one of the tension clips from the band that's right above the shift linkage. It dropped down to the point where it's physically blocking the shift linkage from moving. I didn't have the socket I needed to pull it and get the piece out, so I'll have to go back in the morning and see if there's anything wrong with the band or if I can snap it back in place and reset the tension and get out of there.

I just really need to get it out of that garage before someone notices I'm working on it up there.