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Transmission wont shift gears?

Tiny
LUCKYGIRRL
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 PONTIAC MONTANA
  • V8
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 156,000 MILES
I have a 2004 pontiac montana and the gear shift stopped working. It moves through all the gears but doesnt actually stick in any of them correctly. It is stuck in neutral. A friend said it might be something called the actuator in the brake that signals to the gear shift. I would like to try to fix this myself. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 3:24 PM

18 Replies

Tiny
MERLIN2021
  • MECHANIC
  • 17,250 POSTS
Hello,

It sounds like the shift cable is broken or has popped off the transmission or shifter here are instructions on how to replace the cable in the diagrams below.

The shifter cable is nothing more than steel cable. What you need to do is this. Open the hood and locate the transmission. On the side of the transmission, you will see shift levers. The linkage will be attached to the shift levers. Have a helper shift the transmission while you watch to see if the linkage moves. Let me know what you find

Check out the diagrams (Below). Please let us know if you need anything else to get the problem fixed.
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Monday, August 15th, 2011 AT 3:28 PM
Tiny
LUCKYGIRRL
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Thanks for the diagrams works perfect I had to get a new shift cable cost me $129.00 all fixed I love this site.
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Tuesday, August 16th, 2011 AT 6:12 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Nice work, we are here to help, please use 2CarPros anytime.
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Thursday, October 6th, 2011 AT 11:09 AM
Tiny
JCBM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2005 PONTIAC MONTANA
  • 6 CYL
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 100,000 MILES
Sometimes I can not get my van to go from park to drive. Seems if I start the van and let it warm up it works fine, but if I just jump right in, the gear shift will not move out of park. Very frustrating when your in a rush. If you keep trying eventually it will go in gear, cant really figure this out, and the other day my wife was droping the kids off at school and put the van in park, (school is 2 minutes away) and then the same thing happened, could not get it to go out of park for like 5 mins. Please Help.
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
When this happens, check to see if the brake lights are working. Let me know what you find.
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
JCBM
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
Ill let ya know as soon as it happens again.
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MIKEG1021
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2003 PONTIAC MONTANA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 150,000 MILES
My shift lever on my Montana moves freely up and down. Will not shift, and is stuck in reverse. My question is do I have to remove the steering collum to do this repair? Is there a way to make this repair down at the shift linkage?
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
GEO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
Shift cable popped off at transmission. May pop back on but likely to pop back off. Use this fix to get to a garage or in your own to change the cable.
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Tuesday, August 6th, 2019 AT 3:06 PM (Merged)
Tiny
DIABLO8413
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA
Transmission problem
2000 Pontiac Montana 6 cyl Front Wheel Drive Automatic 110k miles

hi my 2000 montana was workin fine then one day it just started havin a hard time shifting to 2nd and all I had to do was let off the gas and it would shift and would have any prob with any other gear. But now I took it out and it wont shift out of 1st at all I talked to some friends they told me I need a new tranny but then someone else told me that its something with the computer and they knew that cuz my gages started acting funny when all this started like it wouldn't tell me the right speed and the rpm gage was not right also the gas gage would read whatever it felt like pls help me this is my only car and I need it for work.
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Sounds to me like you have an issue with the vehicle speed sensor, check it out and replace as needed, that shows the speed and tells the vehicle when to shift, can you shift it manual with the lever?
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
DIABLO8413
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No I cant shift with the lever.
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
BLACKOP555
  • MECHANIC
  • 10,371 POSTS
Would be checking out the vehicle speed sensor before going any further.
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACK0
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
  • 2000 PONTIAC MONTANA
  • 6 CYL
  • FWD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 185,000 MILES
Transmission shifts 1-2 2-3 just fine
will not shift 3-4.
Fluid and filter have been replaced. No change!
Fluid level is correct.
NO RPM change between 3 to 4 shift position with same road speed. Moving lever from 3-4, NOTHING noticable in vehicle operation.
All parts and pieces within transmission are in factory position. Any logical reason for defect in operation?
Any answers to this Montana problem? OR is this Junk it situation?
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
FACTORYJACK
  • MECHANIC
  • 4,159 POSTS
Here is a list of possibilities for no fourth gear. The first question is what condition is the fluid in? Does the RPM's raise without forward vehicle movement when fourth is attempted? Also is there a check engine light.
Slipping or No Fourth Gear
Checks
Cause

DEFINITION: A large engine RPM increase is noted in fourth gear, Drive range, with little or no vehicle forward speed increase. First, second, and third gear operation are normal. Shifts into fourth gear are soft or do not occur. Fourth gear ratio is 0.705:1.

Automatic Transmission Fluid Level
Low fluid level

Transmission Main Line Pressure
Low transmission main line pressure

Oil Filter Assembly
"Â The oil filter assembly (100) is missing, plugged, or damaged.

"Â The oil filter seal assembly (101) is missing or is damaged.

Control Valve Body Assembly
"Â The 3-4 shift valve (362) or the 4-3 manual downshift valve (360) is stuck or binding.

"Â Debris is found in the passages of the control valve body (301) or of the control valve body spacer plate and gasket assembly (396)

Case Cover Assembly
Distortion or damage occurs at the manual valve (404) or at the case cover (401), causing PRN oil leak.

Driven Sprocket Support Assembly
A plugged third clutch oil passage in the driven sprocket support assembly (609)

Fourth Clutch Assembly
"Â The clutch plates (500-502) are worn, damaged, or misassembled.

"Â A missing or not seated fourth clutch spring retaining ring (601)

"Â A damaged spring assembly (602) or piston (603)

"Â Worn or damaged fourth clutch piston seals (604, 605)

Third Clutch Sprag Assembly
"Â The sprag (720) was misassembled or backwards on the inner race (661).

"Â A damaged third clutch sprag assembly (653, 661, 719-721)
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
JACK0
  • MEMBER
  • 2 POSTS
No engine change. Nothing differant when driving in / between 3-4 4-3. Just as if the lever movement has no effect.
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
CARSANDAIRPLANES
  • MEMBER
  • 19 POSTS
The 4th gear clutch hubs in these 4T65E trans-axles tend to de-spline after a while, due to going in and out of torque converter lock-up. The only way to fix this is to remove the trans-axle and change the clutch-hub. After this problem came to light, GM started to heat-treat these clutch hubs to prevent this from happening in future designs. Hope this helps.
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Thursday, August 8th, 2019 AT 10:21 AM (Merged)
Tiny
TY WHALIN
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I'm glad I looked at these comment's. The diagrams were very useful. I did the research because I wasn't sure how the shift cable was routed after the firewall under the dashboard. I pulled the gear selector cable last night. It only took about a half hour.

The toughest part of the job was, pulling out the rubber grommet out of the firewall. It did take me five store's to locate the cable in stock on the store shelf for pick-up. Otherwise, it has to be ordered. Not as difficult has you might think to replace the gear selector cable.
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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 8:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 109,747 POSTS
Hi:

Glad it helped. It seems as though it's becoming more of an issue with these vehicles. Regardless, I'm happy to hear it helped.

Have a great weekend.

Joe
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Friday, November 15th, 2019 AT 9:19 PM

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