Transmission will not shift in to gear

BUCKWHEAT NASH

MEMBER
2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE
4.6L
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
300,000 MILES

It started to get a little hard to get in park for a couple days then started back shifting in to park easy. Then yesterday I stopped at a store and let one of my girls grab some things of a porch while I sat in it with the engine running and 2 or 3 minutes later she returned in the car as I pulled the shifter into drive nothing happened. So I put it back up into park a couple times back an fourth and all the sudden it went in drive and we took off. Drove home fine as ever. Then me and my wife went to the barn to feed our stock and pulled into the barn fed and backed out fine pulled around to the side of barn to count the cows as they came up and then shifted to reverse and nothing, did same as at store shifted back and fourth several times but didn't help. After about 40 minutes starting and shifting on an off. It went on reverse and drove fine back home. Then parked it where I could get under it good and hasn't moved all day. I went out and pushed the traction control button on and off several times but the TC like never went off but it shifted in to drive and I pulled up and backed up fine put it back in park an now same thing. It sounds like it is shifting in to position and the motor even changes tone but when you mash gas it does not raised rpm's put it back in neutral and revs up fine but will not in any gear. If you pull the shifter all the way to low low it sticks and has to be forced up and is pretty hard to get out of that gear. What the heck is up with that thing? I have had the car for 10 years and have had excellent service out of it. I have replaced the front wheel barrings on each side a time or to but other than an idler pulley have had absolutely no problem at all with this fine ride !

5 Replies

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

Good evening,

Sounds like you have 2 issues. The shifting is one. That may be from the actual cable binding internally not allowing smooth gear change.

The other sounds like you may have a clogged filter in the transmission. How long since you change the transmission fluid and filter?

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/automatic-transmission-problems

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-service-an-automatic-transmission

Roy

Automatic Transmission Range Selector Cable Replacement

Removal Procedure

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1. Position the steering column shift lever to the park position.
2. Remove the instrument panel knee bolster. Refer to Knee Bolster Replacement in Instrument Panel,Gauges and Warning Indicators.
3. Remove the driver's seat. Refer to Seat Replacement - Front Bucket in Seats.
4. Pull back the carpet and insulation around the driver's area.
5. Remove the retainer securing the cable to the steering column.

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6. Remove the cable end from the steering column ball stud.
7. Depress the tangs and remove the cable from the steering column bracket.

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8. Remove the bolt securing the cable support to the brace.

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Important: Avoid unnecessary twisting/bending of the range selector cable when removing the cable from the support.

9. Remove the range selector cable from the support.

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10. Remove the cable grommet from the floor panel.
11. Raise and suitably support the vehicle. Refer to Vehicle Lifting

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12. Remove the clips on the cable from the floor panel reinforcement.

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13. Ensure the transmission manual shaft is positioned in mechanical park.
14. Remove the retainer that secures the cable to the bracket.

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15. Remove the cable clip on the transfer case, if equipped.
16. Remove the range selector cable end (2) from the transmission range selector lever ball stud (1).
17. Depress the tangs and remove the cable from the bracket.
18. Lower the vehicle and ensure that the steering column shift lever is still in the park position.

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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 5:33 PM

BUCKWHEAT NASH

MEMBER
3 POSTS

I have never changed the transmission fluid. I was raised up believing by multiple examples to not fool with transmission fluid. I have seen cars that were working great and because of recommendations changed the transmission fluid and almost immediately started having transmission issues.I'm not a know it all kind of jerk, but I don't believe it could have been coincidental. I read the reply that you all so kindly left me, and thanks. Then I crawled right under there and had my wife get in the cockpit and turn the key to the on position and then push brake an shift through r n d and the 2 lowest ranges. It seems tight on the bottom side of car. What could bind it on the column side possibly? I have fixed a lot of vehicles in time but only had 1 column apart and Lord have mercy it was in a 1978 Ford one ton truck. I'm pretty sure it has a few differences. Lol. My stability system message pops up and also the TC with a line through it is on and will not turn off. Not sure if they are at all connected to my problem but thought I'd ask. Once again fellers thanks for the help.

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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 8:20 PM

ASEMASTER6371

MECHANIC
52,797 POSTS

As far as the fluid today it is a must to change the fluid every 50,000 miles. If not then you will shorten the life of the transmission.

No to the column. It is the cable that fails.

Roy

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Thursday, November 14th, 2019 AT 9:04 PM

BUCKWHEAT NASH