Strange tranny issues

Sometimes when I start the truck it's hard to shift into gear. Reverse works fine but then shifting into drive the "d" doesn't light up. I have to go further down into 2, then up to 4 and it kicks in. I can then move over to drive.

Then when this happens, after I drive for a bit and go to park the truck, if I cam on any kind of incline or decline the truck with move about a foot after shutting the engine off and while in park. It also makes a clicking sound while it does this. Like I am moving across a couple of gears.

Sometimes when I get back in the truck it won't even try to start. I have to shift the gear lever again and it will then start. Today I had to use the park shift override to put it in neutral before it would start.

Next day, starts fine drives great, seemingly no issues at all.

Wtf?

 

Chilton, Haynes, and the factory service manuals outline the check and adjustment of the shift linkage and park / neutral start switch. I'd start with that and make sure everything is lubed and not damaged.

 

linkages need lubing under truck
shift lever guides/slots need cleaning in cab

 

Sounds like an issue with the switch assembly alignment in the shifter under the console.

 

With your description, you may either need an adjustment of the selector switch, or perhaps the selector bolts have loosened enough to allow play. As for your truck rolling a foot on a hill, it all depends on where on the parking drum your transmission is at. The parking drum/gear has around 10 teeth or so. Until the truck moves far enough for the parking pawl to drop into a tooth, it may roll a small amount. If it is rolling too far, and you hear a ratcheting noise, as if it is skipping over teeth, then your may be looking at a cable problem, (Which could also throw off your selector) that is not allowing your truck to fully go into park.

 

Yes, ratcheting sound...that's what is happening. Thanks

 

Park the truck in park and take the key out .
Go under the truck and disconnect cable from transmission shifter .
try to push truck by hand and make sure the truck holds .
You should feel the parking pawl click into place making sure the truck doesnt roll . put something behind the rear wheels so the truck doesnt roll too far.( I would hate to see a fellow TW member get run over ).This tells you the transmission is also in park .
Once you know for sure the truck is in park , align the shifter cable perfectly so it fits into the shifter on the side of the transmission .If the cable is in park and the transmission is in park , its a matter of adjusting your cable to align .
To verify you did it correctly once you put the key back in the ignition , the truck will only start in park and neutral

 

Thanks guys! Will let you know what happens

 

For future reference: Proper parking procedure:

- Stop Truck
- Shift to Neutral
- Engage Parking Break
- Take foot off regular brake pedal. You may feel the vehicle "settle" slightly. This is the drivetrain releasing torque.
- Shift into Park.
- Shut Off Engine.

Most people tend to just throw their tranny in park, turn off the truck, and wander away. This is incorrect:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parking_pawl