Tahoe shifter cable

[jackmono]

I replaced my shifter cable on my Chevy Tahoe and I can't get it into reverse any ideas on what to do?

 

[Fless]

Tell us your make, model, year, and engine for starters.

 

[KMeloney]

I didn’t think the ‘21+ had shifter cables…

 

[Fless]

I didn’t think the ‘21+ had shifter cables…

Yes, well, I'd move the thread if I knew what was being worked on.

 

[jfoj]

My guess is it may be a 1999-2006 model. I just had to replace my shifter cable on my 2005 the other day. If he is working with the 2 piece shifter cable, the cable housing is probably not locked with the horseshoe clip?

 

[jackmono]

Tell us your make, model, year, and engine for starters.

2003 Tahoe Z71

 

[jackmono]

Tell us your make, model, year, and engine for starters.

5.3 V8 Vortec

 

[jackmono]

It will go in reverse and than a second later it seems to just fall out of the gear and won't move. I can get it P,N,D,3,2,1 it just won't stay in reverse.

 

[strutaeng]

That's strange. Why did you replace the shifter cable in the first place? Did the truck ever work correctly?

Almost sounds like it's transmission related...no?

Can you jack the rear end, unhook up the shifter cable and manually change the gear?

There's a white box-looking thing on the shifter under the truck that allows you to extend or retract the cable. That would be the case if you couldn't get the truck to shift into Park or manual 1. I remember there's some teeth in there for adjusting.

 

[Miami-Dade]

@jackmono Moved you here from 2021+section.
Welcome from Miami&NYC!

 

[Doubeleive]

It will go in reverse and than a second later it seems to just fall out of the gear and won't move. I can get it P,N,D,3,2,1 it just won't stay in reverse.

you need to adjust the cable, the reason the shifter arm is so loose in his video is because the spring is popped out on the shifter arm, that is a separate issue unrelated to doing the adjustment.

 

[jackmono]

My husband change the transmission oil and he moved the shifter to get the pan out there was no C clip holding the shifter in the bracket and he couldn't get it to go in gear so we just thought something wrong with shifter cable so we bought a new one. It's routed the same way that I took it out I do notice that when it will go through all the gears up at the column and then I'll put it back in park and then when I go look at the lever by the transmission it's not all the way in the park I can still move it up. I've tried to adjust it I'm just doing something wrong I guess I just don't understand why it will hit reverse I'll push the gas and it will go backward and this falls out of the gear and won't move again

 

[jackmono]

Thank you for that video I have watched that video among other videos a zillion times I just do not understand what I'm doing wrong. Just when I think I got it it just slips out of reverse. Or it will act like it's in reverse the reverse lights will go on in the back but it won't engage the gear it won't move

 

[Doubeleive]

Thank you for that video I have watched that video among other videos a zillion times I just do not understand what I'm doing wrong. Just when I think I got it it just slips out of reverse. Or it will act like it's in reverse the reverse lights will go on in the back but it won't engage the gear it won't move

take the cable off down at the transmission, then move it by hand and compare it's location to the cable connector. you either have it adjusted to far forward or to far back. I suspect too far back. you might want to get a helper to move the shifter while you are under the truck and feel it/look at it.
of course don't get rolled over, chock the wheels.....]
when you move the shifter arm at the transmission you will feel it "click" at each gear, I suspect how the cable is set currently it's not "clicked" into reverse so it pops out into neutral ? correct? if not then it is popping back into park in which case the cable would need to be adjusted the other direction.
it's going to be one way or the other..

 

[strutaeng]

Agree with @Doubeleive 100%. A helper and chocked wheels are absolutely required here.

Sounds like when you select R on the shifter lever, the transmission gear selector "rooster comb" (inside the transmission) is actually going into Neutral because of the misadjusted shifter cable.