2012 shifter won’t move into Manual position - SOLVED

[gotatahoe]

Hi all: The shifter in my 2012 won’t go into the M position. It feels like it hits a hard stop. Pulling the lever forward doesn’t make a difference. The lever moves from P through D fine and the transmission seems to work OK.

This happened following a transmission rebuild and they replaced both shift cables. Clearly they did something wrong, but I don’t live close to that shop so I’d rather not take it back if it’s something I can easily fix myself.

From searching on the internet I see that this happens often, but couldn’t find an example of someone fixing it.

The search on this site didn’t yield any hits at all.

Has anybody fixed this? Any clues where to look? I’ve looked inside the lower dash area and don’t see anything obviously out of whack, but I don’t necessarily know what I’m looking for.

 

[mikez71]

My thoughts are.. pop the shifter cable off at the transmission..

See if you can rotate the crankarm to M by hand underneath vehicle..

Then see if you can move the lever far enough that would normally put it into M.. (take note of shift lever position in D first)

One of those two tests *should* show a problem?

 

[gotatahoe]

That makes sense. It will be a couple days before circumstances align for me to crawl under there, but I will try that.

 

[Doubeleive]

That makes sense. It will be a couple days before circumstances align for me to crawl under there, but I will try that.

take it back to the shop that did the work and request they adjust the shift cable. just show the tech or whoever is at the counter what is going on. they should have you in & out in no time.

 

[Bronson357]

Update I have the same problem.

 

[mikez71]

I wonder if the cables stretch and get out of adjustment?
Although in the OP's case, it sounds like he had two new cables....

Here are adjustment instructions...

6L45/6L50/6L80/6L90 - Automatic Transaxle — 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD V8-5.3L Service Manual ~ LEMON Manuals

Repair manual for the 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe 4WD V8-5.3L, including electrical diagrams, bolt torques, and labor times.

lemon-manuals.la

 

[Fless]

Update I have the same problem.

See what @mikez71 posted above, in case you missed it.

 

[gotatahoe]

Thanks for the input, y’all, I’m a little slow getting back to this due to life happening and whatnot.

That link for the adjustment instructions seems to be just what’s needed but it won’t open for me. Is there another way to get those instructions? I could only find one set through an internet search and it was a bit vague.

I got under there today and verified that the lever on the transmission moves through all the positions. I can even put it in the M position and reattach the cable (with the shifter moved to that position) but then when I shift out of M, it will not go back in. I am assuming the cable must be just a teensy but too short? Does that sound right?

 

[gotatahoe]

I also just realized that when they put the shift cable on, they didn’t use the proper grommet. They used a c-clip which is probably more robust, but allows a lot of sloppiness in the position of the lever, which I’m guessing can affect the adjustment of the cable? I’m going to grab a correct grommet tomorrow and then try adjusting it and see how that goes.

I did find instructions online after more searching (searched for Silverado shift cable) and I’m hoping to get it working soon.

 

[gotatahoe]

In case it’s useful, the issue did turn out to be the lack of a grommet on the end of the shift cable. Why they ditched it, I don’t know since presumably the new cable came with fresh unbroken grommet. Anyway, if there’s any slop in the connection between the cable and the nub on the lever, it becomes impossible to get an adjustment point that lets you engage P as well as M.

Also just in case anybody is reading this looking for answers, if you can’t engage P, the cable is too long, and if you can’t engage M, it’s too short. And the difference between them is very little, so it can take a fair bit of fiddling to get it right, or at least it did for me.

 

[mikez71]

Great info, thanks for the update, and job well done!

 

[Joseph Garcia]

I'm glad to read that your issue is resolved. Please add the word "FIXED" or "SOLVED" to your thread's title, to let others who are experiencing a similar issue know that this thread has an identified solution.

 

[gotatahoe]

I am unable to access the menu that would let me edit the thread title. I think maybe because the thread was started too long ago?

 

[89Suburban]

I am unable to access the menu that would let me edit the thread title. I think maybe because the thread was started too long ago?

@Fless