Attn: Guys with early 2000's GMC or Chevy full size trucks-Shifter cable retention issue...
SShink said
Jun 2, 2015
Since I know a few of you have late 90's/early 2000's GMC or Chevy full size trucks, thought I'd throw this out there.
When towing the enclosed trailer to MN a few weeks ago, I stopped at a gas station in Missouri to fill up (many times for the trip... lol), and pulled up to the pump and went to put the truck into Park, and there was a 'click' under the truck and then the gear shift lever went all the way up and down like it wasn't attached to anything. So now I have my truck at the pump with a 28' trailer behind me backing up the entire lane behind me at the gas station and it's stuck in Neutral with only my foot on the brake to hold it in place...
I panicked and thought the trans just bought the farm after pulling the trailer, so shut the truck off stuck in Neutral and put on the parking brake hoping it would hold the truck and trailer in place. I ran out and put a block of wood behind the truck wheels then crawled under it and found the trans shifter cable had popped off the trans linkage connection! I manually put the truck into Park position on the trans, then reconnected the linkage. I looked around but couldn't find a retainer clip, or see anything on the linkage that looked there ever was one... So, I filled up the truck and headed down the road thankful it was something that easy.
Fast forward a few weeks, and when I stopped to put the truck into reverse to back into the driveway, the cable popped off again! Put it back on and it's been fine since. So I finally did a search this morning, and found that this is a common problem for this era of GM trucks. Here's a couple of threads talking about the issue: First LinkForum Link
I need to get back under the truck and see if the trans linkage plastic bushing in the cable is worn out. Sounds like it's a bear to replace the cable assembly, so might have to get creative with some zip ties to hold the cable onto the linkage...
Anyone else have this issue with their GM truck of this era?
bowtie said
Jun 2, 2015
I've seen a lot of these over the years. I didn't read the links, but the end of the cable and the little shift lever it connects to run together and over time they will wear, eventually popping off. I've seen quite a few rusty levers too which I'm sure adds to the problem since the rust will be more abrasive.
Lever is part # 15251895, cable is a 2 piece design with instructions and is part # 12477640 (assuming 3/4 ton with 4L60/80E). Need to replace both halves due to a design change I believe.
I haven't heard about any completely losing the cable end, just that they get too sloppy. Could probably zip it to the lever until you need something else to do on the truck.
SShink said
Jun 2, 2015
Thanks Bryan, I was hoping you would chime in and let us know if there is a 'mystery' clip that could be ordered, or not...
I love this truck, but it is starting to have some age/rust issues. Need to decide if I want to keep up with the frustrating hopefully little things that are going to happen, or bite the bullet on one with less than 100K miles...
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 2, 2015
Both Stan's and mine are half ton's, so are the parts different than the one's you listed numbers for ??
I haven't had an issue with my shifter but the intermediary park brake cable snapped and I want to replace it. I use that with the trailer and miss it. The cable is the one that has the adjustment threads and is only about 2 ft long. I would get the connector link too, as that is very rusty.
bowtie said
Jun 3, 2015
Should be the same for k1500 and k2500.
ebrake cables are all different depending on std or x-cab, long or short bed.
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 3, 2015
bowtie wrote:
Should be the same for k1500 and k2500.
ebrake cables are all different depending on std or x-cab, long or short bed.
I got a cable from NAPA today and will install it tomorrow.
Chris S said
Jun 4, 2015
Hey Stan, I had that same problem with my truck a few years ago at the boat landing. Tried to find that "magic clip" too because I had it for sale. The cable replacement was easy, you should have no problem replacing it.
Lost in the 60s said
Jun 4, 2015
Chris S wrote:
Hey Stan, I had that same problem with my truck a few years ago at the boat landing. Tried to find that "magic clip" too because I had it for sale. The cable replacement was easy, you should have no problem replacing it.
Since I know a few of you have late 90's/early 2000's GMC or Chevy full size trucks, thought I'd throw this out there.
When towing the enclosed trailer to MN a few weeks ago, I stopped at a gas station in Missouri to fill up (many times for the trip... lol), and pulled up to the pump and went to put the truck into Park, and there was a 'click' under the truck and then the gear shift lever went all the way up and down like it wasn't attached to anything. So now I have my truck at the pump with a 28' trailer behind me backing up the entire lane behind me at the gas station and it's stuck in Neutral with only my foot on the brake to hold it in place...
I panicked and thought the trans just bought the farm after pulling the trailer, so shut the truck off stuck in Neutral and put on the parking brake hoping it would hold the truck and trailer in place. I ran out and put a block of wood behind the truck wheels then crawled under it and found the trans shifter cable had popped off the trans linkage connection! I manually put the truck into Park position on the trans, then reconnected the linkage. I looked around but couldn't find a retainer clip, or see anything on the linkage that looked there ever was one... So, I filled up the truck and headed down the road thankful it was something that easy.
Fast forward a few weeks, and when I stopped to put the truck into reverse to back into the driveway, the cable popped off again! Put it back on and it's been fine since. So I finally did a search this morning, and found that this is a common problem for this era of GM trucks. Here's a couple of threads talking about the issue: First Link Forum Link
I need to get back under the truck and see if the trans linkage plastic bushing in the cable is worn out. Sounds like it's a bear to replace the cable assembly, so might have to get creative with some zip ties to hold the cable onto the linkage...
Anyone else have this issue with their GM truck of this era?
Lever is part # 15251895, cable is a 2 piece design with instructions and is part # 12477640 (assuming 3/4 ton with 4L60/80E). Need to replace both halves due to a design change I believe.
I haven't heard about any completely losing the cable end, just that they get too sloppy. Could probably zip it to the lever until you need something else to do on the truck.
Thanks Bryan, I was hoping you would chime in and let us know if there is a 'mystery' clip that could be ordered, or not...
I love this truck, but it is starting to have some age/rust issues. Need to decide if I want to keep up with the frustrating hopefully little things that are going to happen, or bite the bullet on one with less than 100K miles...
I haven't had an issue with my shifter but the intermediary park brake cable snapped and I want to replace it. I use that with the trailer and miss it. The cable is the one that has the adjustment threads and is only about 2 ft long. I would get the connector link too, as that is very rusty.
ebrake cables are all different depending on std or x-cab, long or short bed.
I got a cable from NAPA today and will install it tomorrow.
Hey Stan, I had that same problem with my truck a few years ago at the boat landing. Tried to find that "magic clip" too because I had it for sale. The cable replacement was easy, you should have no problem replacing it.
Shoot dog, baling wire is cheaper....