2000 GM having trouble with shifter

[Ziggy]

So, when I got home from work last night, I pulled up to the house and went to back into my driveway, and noticed my shifter felt a little funny. It felt like the detents for the gears wern't in the proper places. Then I realized that the transmission actually wasn't shifting into the appropriate gear as what was displayed on the gear selector. For example, when I went to shift from drive to reverse, I was showing on the gear selector that the car should have been in park. This is a brand new issue that cropped up with no warning, and I'm afraid if I don't correct it right away, it'll eventually get worse and render the car undrivable. Where Should I start looking? I don't feel like the issue is inside the transmission, since the trans seems to be willing to shift, I just can't tell it what gear to shift to....

[Ziggy]

Got to work this morning and found a gold colored torx head screw in the floorboard. Thinking whatever this issue is, the fact that the screw is loose and laying in the floor is the likely cause for the problem. Will be pulling the trim under the dash this afternoon to try to figure it out.

[miamibob]

They may be T-30's. There is a good video on YOUTUBE about this. Some Loctite, don't over tighten and you should be good!

[mcninetyone]

That screw is the problem, I've seen this on several cars. Fortunately it's easy to fix.
It goes at the back end of the shifter rod.
If you'll get your head up under there while moving the shifter with your free hand.
(It may be easier to see if you remove the underdash trim just in front of your knees.)
It will be obvious where that screw goes.

[VicCrownVic]

This issue affects a huge range of Ford vehicles from around 1990 and newer. I know for sure that CV/MGM 90+ are affected.
Video below is decent, it's for a Windstar but it's petty much the same thing as your MGM.

[Ziggy]

Video is exactly what I'm dealing with. Going to go poke around under the dash and see what I can do.

[Ziggy]

You guys are awesome! This is the kind of stuff that I really love about vehicle specific forums. I did have to remove the under dash trim to find it, and I fought a little bit with getting the hole lined up, but all in all, it was a 10-15 minute job from start to finish. I'll sleep much better tonight, knowing that I don't have a much larger issue lurking.

[Hearsesrock427]

This issue affects a huge range of Ford vehicles from around 1990 and newer. I know for sure that CV/MGM 90+ are affected.
Video below is decent, it's for a Windstar but it's petty much the same thing as your MGM.

Dude, that's awesome. I'd give positive rep to you, but I gotta spread more around, so says the vBulletin message. In any case, I gotta try that on a very sloppy shifting '96 Grand Marquis Bayshore Edition I found at a yard. Surprised this ins't stickied transmission info in both the box and whale drivetrain tech sections.

[miamibob]

Like I mentioned in my first post, BOOM- THERE IT IS!!!

[sly]

+1 that's what the issue was in my 93 about 70K miles ago. I just tightened the piss out of those bolts. If I'm ever back in there, I'll put some lockwashers on it.

[miamibob]

Or Loctite. I forgot if the blue or red one is removable (think it is the blue one???).

[sly]

they're both removable... the blue is for normal temps, red for high temps or harsh environments. blue for this application.

[miamibob]

Thought that was the case as both are removable. Supposedly, the blue is easier but never did a comparison test.