2010 Denali XL - Won't shift to drive

[Eric Nordin]

So my Denali XL was in the shop for a simple right motor mount, finished and they backed out off the hoist and now it won't shift to drive. They took the cable off which is free and the will pull down to drive. The linkage the cable connects to on the transmission will not physically move to the drive position. I cannot think of what could have happened while changing a motor mount that would cause this? Any ideas? Is this an issue with others?

 

[swathdiver]

You have to connect it in the park position. I keep rereading your post. Are you saying that the cable is back on and the transmission will not shift to drive?

 

[Eric Nordin]

You have to connect it in the park position. I keep rereading your post. Are you saying that the cable is back on and the transmission will not shift to drive?

Before and after removing the cable; currently the cable is off. They removed the cable to eliminate the possibility of the issue being in the steering column (and cable) down to the linkage. When you move the actual linkage at the tranny, you can feel - park to reverse, next click - reverse to neutral , then it stops before drive. Their next move on Monday is to drop the pan and look at the linkage that i guess moves a valve? The truck has 154k, runs great besides the motor mount issue and has never had any signs of a tranny issue. The shop implied to me that I must have had it towed there, which is crazy, it my reliable daily driver. I cannot think of any correlation between what they could have done while working on the motor mount to cause this.

 

[Tonyrodz]

Before and after removing the cable; currently the cable is off. They removed the cable to eliminate the possibility of the issue being in the steering column (and cable) down to the linkage. When you move the actual linkage at the tranny, you can feel - park to reverse, next click - reverse to neutral , then it stops before drive. Their next move on Monday is to drop the pan and look at the linkage that i guess moves a valve? The truck has 154k, runs great besides the motor mount issue and has never had any signs of a tranny issue. The shop implied to me that I must have had it towed there, which is crazy, it my reliable daily driver. I cannot think of any correlation between what they could have done while working on the motor mount to cause this.

Maybe when they popped the cable off underneath they bent/broke it. Did that once on my express van. Instead of popping it off I tried removing that shifter arm underneath that's bolted to the trans. When I broke the nut lose on that arm--while the cable was still connected--the arm moved and bent/broke the shifter cable underneath. It was doing the EXACT same thing yours is. I bought another cable snd it was good to go. Check the cable that's connected to the arm that comes off the trans. Is it bent?

 

[Eric Nordin]

Maybe when they popped the cable off underneath they bent/broke it. Did that once on my express van. Instead of popping it off I tried removing that shifter arm underneath that's bolted to the trans. When I broke the nut lose on that arm--while the cable was still connected--the arm moved and bent/broke the shifter cable underneath. It was doing the EXACT same thing yours is. I bought another cable snd it was good to go. Check the cable that's connected to the arm that comes off the trans. Is it bent?

The cable was just popped off the linkage and the cable looks good and moves freely all the way thru drive. I was only underneath for a few minutes, but cable and linage arm did not look bent. Lots of room there so I am not sure if moving the engine to get the motor mount in place could have touched anything to cause a bend in either. The truck drove onto the hoist (no issue at all prior to this) and was backed off the hoist after the motor mount was installed, but then would not shift to drive.

 

[Tonyrodz]

I'd say it's something they messed up, but they're probably gonna charge you to fix it.

 

[Eric Nordin]

Tonyrods, Yes, that is what I am afraid of. One of those, should have done it myself times......

 

[Tonyrodz]

Tonyrods, Yes, that is what I am afraid of. One of those, should have done it myself times......

No one cares more about your ride, or is more careful with it then yourself. But sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and pay someone to do.

 

[swathdiver]

They probably damaged it somehow, maybe they propped something against it to move the engine/trans up to get at the motor mount, who knows.

Ok, so when the cable is connected in park, it will not allow you to shift into drive? If they've now disconnected the cable at the column too, the can or worms is open. The shop manual says to connect the cable back on with it in park. I'm no expert on these but realize that it may not "click" into drive with the engine off because it's waiting for a signal from somewhere else computer wise.

Don't let them inside your transmission, the ripoff alarm between my ears is screaming. They probably busted the cable, let them replace it and run out of there fast.

 

[Eric Nordin]

Final resolve....The cable was good as thought early on, they did not go into the transmission (which I am glad this was found out now). It was the trans linkage to that the cable connects to was slightly bent enough to hit a lip on the trans pan and stop before drive. Obviously they bent it, somehow. I cant figure out how unless something they were pushing up with slipped and bent it as its somewhat covered by the drive shaft. Anyhow mystery solved.