Shift cable and shift lever problems

LUKE_DA_PAINTER

MEMBER
FORD ESCORT

I have a 96 ford escort lx 1.9 automatic that had sat in the parking lot for the whole winter and was only moved once so the snow could be plowed. When I moved it the gear shifter was hard to move but not impossible. Didnt pay it any attention and when I went to start it recently it wouldnt. Played with the shifter alittle and got it started. I guess it wasnt it park but it said it was. When I went to put it in reverse it skipped it and went into drive. Had to struggle to get it in park and I broke my shift cable. I got it off of both ends and I just cant figure out how to get it threaded threw from the shifter to the shift lever and which way I would wanna go with it, pull it out from the cab or the engine. Neither end will fit threw the hole. Should I tape wire to one end so I can feed it back threw? On further investigation I found my shifter lever is froze up pretty good and was the cause of the whole mess so if I get the cable fixed I still have to deal with that. Any suggestions

1 Reply

LUKE_DA_PAINTER

MEMBER
2 POSTS

The part that was froze up was the lever on the transmission, I got it freed up with, I think its called "pb blaster" I tryed wd40 but it didnt touch it. Hit it hard with the blaster and let it sit over night and in the morning it was working fine. I got the cable out, had to pop the rubber plug out with screw driver and use a small pry bar to widen the hole a little but I got it out. Ive called all the auto part dealers and the junkyards in my area no one has one. Talked to my girlfriends dad (works in the parts department for a ford dealer) but he is a procrastinator was hopin that you could point me in the right direction for finding the shift cable online. Im pretty good on the net but cant seem to find one. My friend said to look for an after market one if you cant find the original but I just cant seem to find it. Thanks alot, I think its great that you guys help people out, and I show my graditude