The gear shift lever completely broke off where it comes out of a housing sleeve on the steering column. The shroud around the back of the steering wheel has been removed and I am able to manually shift with my fingers. I need to know how to replace the shifter, does it require a special tool to remove it and replace it etc. Thanks, Steve

Not hard to replace. But you can't buy them., unless you get the entire steering column. Just did a Ford, same set up. Junk yard part is cheaper.

Shift cable starts in the steering column and runs down to the shift lever on the tranny. The sleeve that the cable runs thru can break or come loose. It has to be attached and secured along its line or else it will just flex instead of pushing and pulling the shift lever underneath. After checking that, make sure the support bracket at the steering column end is tight. over years of moving that lever up and down, it loosens the bolts of the support. This makes the lever feel loose and usually throws the red gear marker off of the lettering. There is a thin thread in the column with a thumb screw or dial that turns to adjust the marker to line up on the letters or numbers. If that shift cable is not perfectly aligned , you could be putting a lot of strain on your transmission. The fluid passages are small, and if the are not lining up 100% in each gear, you will wear it out. You will see a steady decrease in acceleration and power. Good luck.

What year is the truck, and did you connect the small string that pulls the indicator ?

Most likely, either the shift tube is damaged/broken or the screws have backed out of the lever at the end of the shift tube that the shift cable connects to. If the shift lever feels really "floppy", then you probably have a broken shift tube. You will probably have to pull the steering column down to get a good look at the shift tube to see if it is broken and to see how much play is in the shift tube bushings. Also look to see if the lever at the end of the shift tube is loose (shift cable lever).

A little word of caution: If you take the steering column down, be sure to disconnect the shift indicator cable first so it does not get broken. There is a tiny screw in the plastic braket that must be removed then the cable loop will simply slip off of the nipple on the shift tube arm.

Anyway, you will need a T-30 torx bit to work on the shift tube, the shift tube bushings and the lever at the end of the shift tube.

I made you a graphic below to help you understand what I am saying. Please note that it is NOT necessary to remove the steering wheel to do this, but you will need to remove the upper steering column shrouds if the shift tube bushings are loose.

It sounds like the shift tube bushings are worn out. There are usually 2 u shaped clamps that have nylon bushings that hold the shift tube to the steering clumn. If loose, that throws off the shift position, could be btween 2 gears at once, and throws off the park - neutral safety switch. Fix that first.


Item Part Number Description 1 14A664 Air Bag Sliding Contact 2 3530 Upper Steering Column Shroud 3 3518 Steering Column Bearing Sleeve 4 3517 Steering Column Bearing 5 3511 Steering Column Lock Cylinder Housing 6 13K359 Multi-Function Switch 7 N808114 Pin 8 N805857 Steering Column Release Lever Pin 9 3D544 Steering Column Release Lever 10 3F609 Tilt Wheel Handle and Shank 11 7361 Column Shift Selector Lever Plunger 12 7210 Gearshift Lever 13 3D657 Steering Column Shaft 14 7B071 Transmission Control Selector Lever Plunger Spring 15 7G357 Gearshift Lever Pin 16 7212 Transmission Column Shift Selector Tube 17 N806582 Tilt Column Pivot Screw 18 7C464 Transmission Control Selector Lever Spring Clip 19 7E400 Gearshift Tube Bushing Clamp 20 - Spacer (Fixed Column) 21 3E729 Steering Shaft (Fixed Column) 22 3F527 Lever Assembly (Manual Transmission) 23 3F530 Pin (Manual Transmission) 24 3F752 Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid 25 7335 Gearshift Lever Socket Bushing 26 7A216 Transmission Shift Selector Position Insert 27 7302 Transmission Selector Lever Arm and Support 28 7E395 Shift Cable and Bracket 29 7210 Gearshift Lever 30 3E691 Steering Column Shift Lock Pawl 31 7W441 Gearshift Lever Pin 32 3676 Steering Column Instrument Panel Bracket 33 3D681 Steering Column Lower Bearing Retainer 34 3517 Steering Column Bearing Sleeve 35 3L539 Steering Column Bearing Tolerance Ring 36 3C674 Steering Column Lower Bearing Spring 37 3C131 Sensor Ring 38 3518 Steering Column Bearing 39 N806423-S56 Steering Column Retaining Nuts 40 14A163 Wiring Harness Retainer 41 3F723 Steering Actuator Housing 42 3B663 Steering Column Lock Lever Pin 43 11572 Ignition Switch 44 3D655 Steering Column Position Spring 45 3D653 Steering Column Locking Lever (LH) 46 3B768 Steering Column Position Lock Spring 47 3B662 Steering Column Locking Lever (RH) 48 3E715 Lower Steering Column Lock Actuator 49 3E696 Steering Column Lock Spring 50 3E691 Steering Column Shaft Lock Pawl 51 3E723 Upper Steering Column Lock Lever Actuator 52 3E695 Steering Column Lock Cam 53 3D656 Steering Column Tilt Flange Bumper 54 14A163 Wiring Harness Retainer 55 391727-S304 Shroud Screws 56 3530 Steering Column Shroud 57 3E717 Steering Column Lock Gear 58 3E700 Steering Column Lock Housing Bearing 59 3C610 Bearing Retainer 60 11582 Ignition Switch Lock Cylinder 61 3L539 Steering Column Tolerance Ring 62 3520 Steering Column Upper Bearing Spring 63 3C610 Snap Ring

Printable View (109 KB) TSB
04-22-12

• GEAR SELECTOR LEVER - INCREASED EFFORT TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE TO PARK

Publication Date: November 1, 2004
FORD: 2002-2005 Explorer, Mountaineer ISSUE: Some 2002-2005 Explorer 4dr/Mountaineer vehicles, may require a greater effort to move the gear selector lever (shift lever) from drive to park. This may be due to a time delay with the brake shift interlock (BSI) pin retraction.
ACTION: To service, replace the BSI switch. Refer to the following Service Procedure.
SERVICE PROCEDURE

1. Remove the two (2) fasteners supporting the instrument panel knee bolster from below the steering column and remove the cover (Figure 1).
   
   
   Figure 1 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
2. Remove the three (3) fasteners supporting the steering column lower shroud and remove the cover (Figure 2).
   
   
   Figure 2 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
3. Remove the three (3) wiring bundle carrier fasteners from the bottom of the steering column to allow movement while removing the BSI switch. It may be necessary to release the connectors from the multifunction switch (Figure 3).
   
   
   Figure 3 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
4. Remove the BSI fasteners (T-30 on the side and T-20 on the bottom) (Figure 4).
   
   
   Figure 4 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
5. Pull the BSI tab on the bottom of the column downward to help free the BSI from the column housing.
6. Break the two (2) side tabs off the BSI by the white wiring connector (Figure 5).
   
   
   Figure 5 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
7. Push the locking tab on the white connector towards the wiring to release the connector from the BSI. Be careful not to damage the connector or wiring. If the connector does not free easily, a very small flat screwdriver may be used to help lift the locking tab (Figure 6).
   
   
   Figure 6 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
8. Connect the wiring to the new BSI. Ensure all clips are fully engaged to prevent the connector from pulling free.
9. Reinstall the BSI onto the steering column and reinstall fasteners (Figure 7).
   
   
   Figure 7 - Article 04-22-12
   
   
10. Check BSI function. With the key in the accessories or run position, press the brake pedal. The BSI pin should retract on brake application, and spring up one (1) second after releasing the brake pedal. Repeat several times.
11. Reinstall fasteners to connect wiring bundle carrier to the steering column. Make sure all connections to the multifunction switch unit are secured properly.
12. Reassemble steering column in reverse order. Ensure rubber gap hider around shift lever is properly seated on the shroud.
13. Cycle the shift lever from park to drive and drive back to park several times to verify improved shift effort.

PART NUMBER PART NAME 1L2Z-3Z719-DA BSI Switch

check fuses... if ok the wires going to that button like to break ... unscrew handle end and inspect...

Good day
No the steering wheel don't need to be remove.
1. remove the instrument panel cluster opening finish panel assembly. remove the 3 screws that retains the upper steering column shroud and remove cover.
2. insert a scratch awl into the access hole on lower steering column shroud and push in the ignition lock cylinder release pin. insert the ignition key into the lock, turn ignition to run position and remove the lock cylinder from the steering column. remove lower steering column shroud. unsnap and slide gearshift lever boot up toward end of gearshift lever.

NOTE: ALWAYS INSTALL NEW GEARSHIFT LEVER RETAINING PIN DURING REASSEMBLY

3. remove gearshift lever retaining pin by lightly tapping with a drift punch and hammer. disconnect gearshift lever harness connector. remove gearshift lever. to install reverse removal procedure.

hope this helps

Cheers

You may have a loose shift linkage in the steering column. Remove the upper and lower plastic covers behind the steerong wheel (5 or 6 philips head) and see if you have any loose torx head or allen head screws. Ea
rlier models had this isue.

Also, go to this site for Villager Quest help.

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/villagerquest/
Here's adjustment procedure too

SECTION 307-05: Automatic Transaxle/Transmission External Controls 2000 Villager Workshop Manual
GENERAL PROCEDURES Cable Adjustment —Shift Control

1. Place the gearshift lever in PARK (P) position.

1. Raise and support the vehicle. Refer to Section 100-02 .

1. Remove the splash shield.

1. Loosen the shift cable nut.

1. Position the shift linkage in PARK (P) position.

1. Tighten the shift cable nut.

1. Move the gearshift lever through the entire shifting range.

1. Verify that the engine will crank with the gearshift lever in PARK (P) or NEUTRAL (N) position.

1. Adjust the transmission range (TR) switch as necessary, refer to Section 307-01 .

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Item Part Number Description 1 043B13 Driver side air bag module 2 — Steering wheel nut 3 3600 Steering wheel 4 — Radio volume control cover 5 — Air bag sliding contact electrical connector access panel 6 — Cruise control cover 7 14A664 Air bag sliding contact 8 13K359 Multifunction switch 9 — Tilt wheel lever 10 13318 Turn indicator cancel cam 11 — Steering column assembly 12 — Steering column mounting bracket nuts (4 Req'd) 13 3C695 Lower column shroud 14 — Steering column opening cover nuts (3 Req'd) 15 — Steering column lower yoke bolt 16 3N725 Steering column lower yoke 17 — Steering column clamp bolt 18 3C695 Upper column shroud 19 7210 Gearshift lever

This is a common problem, I had the same issue, mine completely broke off. You can buy the new sleeve with a new rod at the dealer. The replacement is quite simple. You need to remove the upper and lower covers for the steering column, then drop the sterring column with by removing the four bolts. There are four bolts that hold the sleeve in.