Truck wont go into park

[crimespree]

Here is the problem, i went into the store the other night, put my truck into park, paid for my purchase, and when i got out my truck was 10 feet back from where i left it. it had rolled 10 feet without me even knowing it. my column is a little out of whack but you can feel it when you pull the shifter go into each gear position, event though the indicator is always showing reverse. is there a way i can adjust this to where i can park on a hill without fear of destroying someones property, or even worse? please help so i can take my truck out without paranoia.

[71meangreenc10]

Well,
If its a column shift, you can adjust it at the top of the linkage rod where it bolts to the lower outside column, but you need to check also to see if you can get it into park by taking off the linkage and manually putting it into park on the trans, you could have broken the parking pawl inside the trans which will require a tear down to fix......Please ensure you use chock blocks to keep it from rolling if you are doing it yourself...


Smitty

[kevmic28]

Also check at the tranny to see if the connection is worn out. Mine is so my shifter is really loose. Sometimes if I slam my hood it pops into gear. I have a lokar shifter rod to replace it.

[bsm78]

Reminds me. When i was in high school i drove my dads 78 F100. i stopped at the store near my house. when i came out i couldnt find the truck. thought someone had stole it. then someone pointed across the road and it had crossed the busy highway and backed into my neighbors fence. Funny now looking back.

[lofly'a]

if the parking pawl is broken, you only need to drop the transmission pan to repair/replace it. teardown is not necessary, but it seems from your post that all you need is to adjust the linkage.

[pat 70/71]

I had that happen to me. went to my girl friends house . hopped out of my 70 chevy truck , (1977) three on the tree/ V-8. Came out 1- hour later my truck was gone! guy down the street asked are you missing something? (My truck had rolled 1/4 mile down the street} and didn't hit anything! wow ! I was nineteen years old , racing motorcycles& chasing my now wife Barbara around ,GOOD TIMES INDEED!! Thanks for the memories , ...Pat

[69GMCLonghorn]

Here's a side note to prevent future problems: The parking pawl is really just designed as more of a security devise and not to actually hold the weight of the vehicle. The "proper" way I've been told to park an auto trans vehicle is to put it in neutral, set the E-brake, take your foot off the brake pedal and let it settle on the E-brake. THEN put it in park. This way the tension is on the brakes and not the trans.

Now, how many goof balls like me actually do this?? Probably about 2-3 on a good day. It's overkill, but it can't hurt!

[LockDoc]

-
Another thing you might try is to pull the shift lever back towards you to shift it into park. I bought a truck a while back that would not shift into park. It was because the shift tube was crusty inside the column. I pulled the steering wheel off and squirted PB Blaster down around the tube (inside and out) and sprayed it good down at the bottom by the shift levers, worked the shift lever back and forth, up and down, and every other way I could think of and it loosened up and has worked fine ever since. This condition is amplified by cold temperatures...

LockDoc

[crimespree]

this is my parking habit: arrive at destination, pull the shifter towards me, pull it into park and push the handle back towards the dash - and sometimes it will roll back and catch, and some times it will catch and then seems to bounce out of park. now i park at the closest flat area and do the same steps. i love that truck too much to risk the rolling away and end up having to park 2 or 3 blocks from where im going. i will look into adjusting the linkage when i get back home in a few days. thanks for the advice!

[unclewatts]

This thread makes me love my granny low even more!

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by unclewatts

This thread makes me love my granny low even more!

AMEN to that, brother!! Every truck I've owned since I was 16 has had a granny gear! I love it!

[unclewatts]

Especially when you want to pull an old tree stump out of the ground!

[Wideopenracing15]

Wait, you can pull the shifter towards you like newer cars?

[69GMCLonghorn]

Originally Posted by unclewatts

Especially when you want to pull an old tree stump out of the ground!

Pros of a stick shift over an automatic

1) Trans cooler? Trans cooler lines? What are those?
3) Trans filter? What's that?
4) A shift kit? What's that?
5) Trans overheating? Why? How?
6) Maintenance? Yeah, I change the fluid every 200,000 miles without fail.
7) It's in the gear I want, when I want it there, every time!
8) I have never had a problem with the parking pawl on my trans...

Ok, I'm done being a wise-a** for the day.

[crimespree]

Originally Posted by Wideopenracing15

Wait, you can pull the shifter towards you like newer cars?

yeah... is that not good?

[Wideopenracing15]

I don't know mine doesn't.