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1993 Dakota broke the little cable on the shifter

265 Views 8 Replies 3 Participants Last post by  teve53, 
teve53
Hello I am new to this forum so I am probably doing something wrong. Anyways I dropped the steering column in a 1993 Dakota and broke the little cable the selects the shifter gears on the column. The cable is only like 1/32 to 1/16. I might be able to splice it???
Steve
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teve53 said:
Hello I am new to this forum so I am probably doing something wrong. Anyways I dropped the steering column in a 1993 Dakota and broke the little cable the selects the shifter gears on the column. The cable is only like 1/32 to 1/16. I might be able to splice it???
Steve
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As far as I can see you are not doing anything wrong, & I'd like to be helpful, but I don't have any experience with this particular part. I'd say try to splice it & see what happens I can't even envision that cable application so I don't even know how much room there is to make a splice & what kind of splicing options might work.

This cable doesn't actually make the shift at the transmission, does it? If it did, I'd say be cautious about changing the length of the cable as I think the potential to harm the transmission might exist.

It's kind of hit & miss on these forums, so something else you might try is to post in a dfifferent Gen1 subforum & you might get more action.

But good luck with this.
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oldmarine
You should be able to splice it. There's not a great deal of tension on this cable so a butt connector or the type where you clamp a connector with the cable ends side by side should work. Try to keep it as close to the original length as possible. There is an adjuster (thumb screw) near the end of the cable to fine tune the position of the needle on the PRNDL scale. (See attached diagram)

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teve53
Thank you oldmarine for your help. The long story is, I was fixing a brake light switch on a 1993 Dakota 4x4 and figured I need to drop the steering column to get the new switch in place. When I dropped the column the column shifter shifted into neutral and that little cable/line broke in the process plus the truck stayed in neutral.

What I need is to get the shifter to operate correctly and l think I can splice the little line if not perhaps a new one might be available.

My chief problem is the car will not start. From what I gather, the shifter thinks that it is in gear and not park or neutral to start. How do I fix that ????—I read where this one guy forced the leakage back by force at the column and that sounds like I could brake something else. Any ideas or suggestions are much appreciated.



Thanks Steve
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oldmarine
The park/neutral switch controlling the start circuit is on the transmission itself. Make sure the shifter cable on the transmission is in the park (or neutral) position in order for the starter to work.
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teve53
Thank you oldmarine. Would you have a picture of the location for that switch? Do I need to re-adjust the linkage on the transmission and will that bring the park/neutral switch back into position? I will google for a picture

Thanks Steve
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oldmarine
I'm attaching a video (not very good lighting or audio) for a 97 Ram 1500 that shows the linkage and adjustment points. It's not a Dakota, but there shouldn't be much difference.

Dodge shift linkage
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teve53
Thanks for the video Oldmarine, much appreciated. My problem is starting to look like when I dropped the column---- the shifter advanced with it ----leaving the truck in natural, and locked the indicator where it is at because that little cable broke. I do believe I can splice it.

Anyways, Now I am thinking I need to go under the truck and move the shifter back to park on the transmission.

I am not sure if I can force the sector over or not because it looked like the guy in the video had undone the cable? If I do need to undo and reattach that sounds doable. He shows the kick down wire and how that moves free, but when he comes to the other selector in the video, I only see the whole and bar, perhaps I am missing something.

Tomorrow I will go over and look at the truck better. This job started out helping my wife’s friend. So I need to drive a mile to look. Oldmarine, thanks again and I will report back with some pictures.

Still not sure about the auto/neutral lock out. I have not experienced one on the column and my floor shifts has not been a problem. When I am under there, maybe it be obvious.

steve
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teve53
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I went over and splice the little wire and that seemed to work. The shifter on the column is now between park and reverse.

When I went under the truck, it seemed to me I could hit the linkage at the trans with a hammer and force the arm at the tyranny to go into park. Or loosen the nut on the linkage bar then force the trans to shift by hand and retighten the bolt. Does that sound about right? in addition I am not sure about the plug in the picture, so hopefully someone does

Thanks Steve

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