2011 tahoe gear selector broke??

[brushybarry]

I have a 2011 tahoe, jumped in it the other day to leave and the gear selector moves freely. you do not have to press the brake, it will just move freely through what should be the gears. the selector light on the cluster does not move, it stays in park. Is there a cable that may have came loose or is it more likely that something inside the column broke? im pretty handy just havent had a chance to look at it yet and curious about where its got so much electronic crap if it even has a simple cable going to the trans?

 

[Kenny D]

Can you feel the detents between the gears or does it just flop?

 

[1_8TTony]

Cable has to move to move through the detents. OP states that the dash stays in "Park" when the shift lever is moved. The cable has to move the shift range indicator so that the dash displays R, N O D 2 1........So I'm guessing the cable is not moving at all.

Just gonna have to get down there under the dash and see where the shift cable attaches onto the steering column. Chances are that the cable came disconnected (at the column end of things).

Or worse case scenario is that the metal bracket is broken....the metal bracket where the cable attaches onto the shift lever. This is the expensive fix. Basically required an entire replacement steering column. I've ran into this situation at work once or twice a year.

In the image below, you can see the cable at the top of the picture and the broken cable bracket. They can (forcefully) be removed with a screw driver, but the correct way to replace the bracket assembly is a complete rebuild or column replacement.

 

[brushybarry]

everything appears to be together and working as it should on the steering column end of things. how can it all work and not change the indicator on the cluster? i dont know if it matters but to clarify you do have to press the brake to get the gear selector out of the park position but then it will move freely between what should be the positions for gears. I can def see the cable connected and working as i move the selector

 

[2011SSVHOE]

are you able to drive the vehicle?

 

[brushybarry]

no, i cant change gears

 

[iamdub]

I thought the part that told the PCM (or BCM?) what gear the trans is in is located on the trans. It's sounding to me like the cable came disconnected at the trans side. Live in a salty area? Maybe it corroded and broke. Slide under there and take a peek.

 

[brushybarry]

im gonna get under it today and check it out, anybody know where the cable should be located on the trans?
thanks fellers

 

[iamdub]

Driver's side, along the edge of the trans pan. Something like this:

That black metal "offset" piece is the arm that is moved by the cable to click the trans into gears. The cable on this one had come off and was repaired with a stainless bolt, nut and washers. I think it's on an SSR, but it's still a 4L60 (or 6L?) and will be similar to yours.

Here's a pic of a cable separated from the arm on a Camaro. Again, driver's side and similar to yours:

 

[brushybarry]

yep thats what was wrong with it, if i had dreamed it would be that simple i would have checked there first. i was sure it was gonna be in the steering column. thanks for all the help

 

[iamdub]

Glad it was much simpler. So, something broke or it just popped off? I don't see them just popping off unless something is worn or broken. It's be good to know so it doesn't happen again.

 

[brushybarry]

the clip that held it on broke

 

[M1Gunner]

Driver's side, along the edge of the trans pan. Something like this:

That black metal "offset" piece is the arm that is moved by the cable to click the trans into gears. The cable on this one had come off and was repaired with a stainless bolt, nut and washers. I think it's on an SSR, but it's still a 4L60 (or 6L?) and will be similar to yours.

Here's a pic of a cable separated from the arm on a Camaro. Again, driver's side and similar to yours:

I can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen on newer jeeps...

 

[iamdub]

I can't tell you how many times I've seen this happen on newer jeeps...

5- or 6-speed manual swap would fix it!

 

[M1Gunner]

5- or 6-speed manual swap would fix it!

Great minds think alike sir! lol

 

[brushybarry]

makes me feel better as I have a 2012 4 door wrangler as well, I will be sure to put some zipties in the glove box

 

[M1Gunner]

makes me feel better as I have a 2012 4 door wrangler as well, I will be sure to put some zipties in the glove box

Oh man, that's just rich! Sorry.

 

[2011SSVHOE]

Happened about five years ago on my daughters f**d escape, I call it the Jesus clip, Like where did that clip go Jesus?

 

[Warriorpluto]

If the clip breaks then what is the replacement to get? Is this like the envoy and Trailblazer with the shifter bushing breaking?

 

[Truestyle Scott]

This just happened to mine, cant shift. Going to check down by the tranny hopefully thats the problem. Thanks for posting the possible causes and the fixes.

*update, the end down by the tranny was off. Not sure what clip is supposed to hold it on but the clip was gone. I zip tied it on to get it home now ill find a solution to keeping it on. Maybe a washer and cotter pin.