Shift cable problems

[movietvet]

I have done a little digging and seem to have figured out that a 2003 SSR with the 5.3 and 4L60E transmission, is like a Trailblazer SS model but it has a truck bed in it instead of enclosed like the SUV trailblazer.

If that is the case, I have come across a 2003 SSR that will not shift from park and I have read and read and seems that the likely cause is the shift cable, the upper bushing or the lower bushing or a combination of a couple of them or all 3. By not shift from park, I mean, you can move the shifter all the way back and then all the way forward and there is no detent and the truck stays in park. The PRNDL readout on the dash will read the gears but again, the transmission is not actually changing to anything and it stays in park. You do have to put the foot on the brake pedal to move the shifter.

I looked up the labor time in Charm, for the cable, and it says close to 2 hours. Does anyone know if the upper console around the shifter has to be disassembled and what kind of close quarters is there for the entire cable to be replaced.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks

 

[Mooseman]

If the shifter is moving the tranny's shift arm and the PRNDL is changing with it, I would suspect a dead tranny or at the very least a bad fluid pump. Either way it has to come out.

 

[movietvet]

But, when the shifter handle is moved, there is no detent. It is just a free wheeling shifter. There is no resistance and there is no feeling of torque from the transmission being engaged and putting pressure/torque against the mounts. From the SSR Forum and you tube, this problem seems to be prevalent in many SSR's and TrailBlazers. I have not felt it myself but she parked it and all was ok and then this problem the next time she got in it. There is absolutely no/none detent. Sounds to me like a shift cable/bushing problem. I ask because I do not know. I would think if the pump is bad or something else, there would still be detent at the shifter.

 

[Mooseman]

Ah, then yes, I would suspect the cable bushing and the cable itself is off at the tranny. But, you said that the PRNDL changes. In that case, since the switches for the PRNDL are on the tranny at the shaft, I would then suspect the detent spring or the valve for it is broken or the shaft is "freewheeling". That would explain why it stays in Park and the parking pawl is not disengaging.

 

[movietvet]

Thank you. I think once I look at the truck, it will be crystal clear. If I look at the truck.

This person is a person recommended to me by a lady that I fixed a Mazda 3 for and she was a shady customer. I gave her a price and she said ok and then when came to get her car she only had 1/2 of the agreed upon fee and she said she misunderstood. I wanted the car out of my driveway so I let her go and she promised rest of payment the next day. It took 3 weeks.

The SSR lady keeps interrupting me when I am either asking questions or explaining answers to any of her questions. Sounds like another customer that will "misunderstand". I told her I would get back to her by Thursday.

 

[TJBaker57]

lady keeps interrupting me

I generally will just stop talking when this happens. Eventually the other person notices this and may ask about why am I not speaking. The explanation generally isn't well received !!

 

[mrrsm]

"The Karens ...vs... The Mechanic"