4L60E, Won't shift to Park, broken shifter cable.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 147
Likes: 56
4L60E, Won't shift to Park, broken shifter cable. Richard, my personal 1997 S10 pickup truck is having some issue. I think he was getting jealous and just wants attention.
The one issue I have that's a head scratcher for me is the transmission.
Last week, on one of my outings, the shifter cable popped out of the bracket on the side of the transmission. The plastic tabs that hold it in place broke. I ordered a new cable for it and that should arrive today. But something's bothering me about this. There's another symptom.
When it happened, I was away from home. I dove underneath and shifted it to neutral so I could start it. Set the parking brake good, then dove under and shifted to reverse to back out of the parking space. The cable housing still caught on the bracket, so pulling the shifter down to drive worked and I drove home. When I got home, it was dark and I just set the parking brake and threw some wheel chocks around the left rear wheel for added safety.
I ended up having to drive it again yesterday. This is where I noticed the other symptom. Before leaving, I went ahead and removed the old cable from the transmission shift lever to make it easier for me to shift it manually there. That's when I noticed that I can't push the shifter lever forward into park. It will go slightly forward from the reverse position, but it won't go all the way and click and stay in the park position. I don't even think it's getting to where the parking pawl even engages.
So I'm wondering if it's just going to break the new shifter cable if I install it and try to shift into park.
Are there any 4L60E experts here who can tell me what to look for?
I'm beginning to think I need to look for a 4L60E for a 1996-1997 RWD S10 pickup or RWD Blazer, or the GMC equivalents. I think those are the only two years that match (although if other years will work, that would be good to know).
The one issue I have that's a head scratcher for me is the transmission.
Last week, on one of my outings, the shifter cable popped out of the bracket on the side of the transmission. The plastic tabs that hold it in place broke. I ordered a new cable for it and that should arrive today. But something's bothering me about this. There's another symptom.
When it happened, I was away from home. I dove underneath and shifted it to neutral so I could start it. Set the parking brake good, then dove under and shifted to reverse to back out of the parking space. The cable housing still caught on the bracket, so pulling the shifter down to drive worked and I drove home. When I got home, it was dark and I just set the parking brake and threw some wheel chocks around the left rear wheel for added safety.
I ended up having to drive it again yesterday. This is where I noticed the other symptom. Before leaving, I went ahead and removed the old cable from the transmission shift lever to make it easier for me to shift it manually there. That's when I noticed that I can't push the shifter lever forward into park. It will go slightly forward from the reverse position, but it won't go all the way and click and stay in the park position. I don't even think it's getting to where the parking pawl even engages.
So I'm wondering if it's just going to break the new shifter cable if I install it and try to shift into park.
Are there any 4L60E experts here who can tell me what to look for?
I'm beginning to think I need to look for a 4L60E for a 1996-1997 RWD S10 pickup or RWD Blazer, or the GMC equivalents. I think those are the only two years that match (although if other years will work, that would be good to know).
TECH Junkie
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3,605
Likes: 1,316
From: Iowa
you'll notice when you put it in park, the vehicle will roll sometimes. Usually only a few inches.
This is because the park pawl will occasionally end up not lining up with the spline on the park ring, so the output shaft has to rotate just a bit for them to line up
if you're setting the park brake...obviously it can't roll. So it may just not be finding the spline on the park ring.
This is because the park pawl will occasionally end up not lining up with the spline on the park ring, so the output shaft has to rotate just a bit for them to line up
if you're setting the park brake...obviously it can't roll. So it may just not be finding the spline on the park ring.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 147
Likes: 56
you'll notice when you put it in park, the vehicle will roll sometimes. Usually only a few inches.
This is because the park pawl will occasionally end up not lining up with the spline on the park ring, so the output shaft has to rotate just a bit for them to line up
if you're setting the park brake...obviously it can't roll. So it may just not be finding the spline on the park ring.
This is because the park pawl will occasionally end up not lining up with the spline on the park ring, so the output shaft has to rotate just a bit for them to line up
if you're setting the park brake...obviously it can't roll. So it may just not be finding the spline on the park ring.
Maybe the parking pawl is stuck or jammed.
TECH Junkie
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 3,046
Likes: 713
From: Poplarville, MS
You may need to drop the transmission pan and inspect the inside shift linkage for worn, loose or damaged parts. Pay attention to the rooster cone, detent roller. and the nut that holds the rooster cone to the shift shaft.
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Oct 2021
Posts: 147
Likes: 56
Another video someone sent me showed the rod going back to the parking pawl. Apparently it is spring loaded, which makes the first thing mentioned here not really a possibility. But the end of that rod and spring loaded piece can come apart. It's held together by a pin of some kind. I'm guessing I'm going to find that kind of issue here.
Just ordered a pan gasket and a filter. I need to compare Walmart and Amazon for some "high mileage" fluid, probably Valvoline.