1994 Crown Victoria - Broken Shift Cable

After only 16 years?

Having recently replaced the instrument cluster in a 1999 Grand Marquis, I can understand if the cable/indicator interface has sustained some sort of failure. I had to handle it gingerly when I dismounted it from the cluster backboard. This is not to say that it potato chip fragile, just that I would hesitate to place it under any undue strain.

This said, it might be a case where fitting the cable to the repaired steering column might have applied excessive force to the cable/indicator interface. Stuff happens. I'm certain the mechanic had no intension of damaging it if that is the case.

I recently had the ignition switch and neutral safety switch replaced on my '85 Olds Delta 88. Having read that the procedure is to remove the column and disassemble it to access the components and the weather being way too cold for me to do it, I had a GM dealer do it. Apparently they have short cuts where they snake the wiring through the column without removing or disassembling. In the process, something must have been disturbed. Three days after its return to me, my shift indicator disconnected. When I move the lever, I can bump into something that jostles the indicator needle. It's not enough of a concern to me to go through the procedure to correct it as long as I pay attention to the lever position. If the car was still young, I would have taken it up with them.

The breakage always occurs because someone slams the controls around like a gorrila before the car has come to a stop. Interestingly the problem is that most car controls suffer likewise.

Hard to get your money's worth nowadays.My uncle bought an old '56 Buick for $10 .It had a leaking master cylinder.He put motor oil in it and kept driving,took out the back seat, and used it for drywall tools for 15 years.His son tried to tear it up driving thru the woods, but it kept going.After 18 years of faithfull service, it finally died, locked up due to lack of oil. He griped cause e didin't get his money's worth.

Just no quailty anymore.

I suppose that you could your lucky stars that it is not a shift by wire like the recent throttle by wire problems plaguing Toyota. If this were the case, then you may had gone automatically into park and jammed up the tranny big-time.

Seriously though - the shift cable, like a throttle cable, should last four or more decades. Of course the guys who replaced the column are going to deny any responsibility for the premature failure of the cable. My best-guess is either they failed to properly route the cable, it may had been abused at one point in the repair process, or they did not properly adjust it once it was reconnected.

I once had to eat a tranny rebuild because a shop used the wrong flywheel during an engine rebuild so, I can appreciate your frustration.

Like I always say "If you want it done right, read a manual and do it yourself."

By the way, over time I have become a darn-good at transmission rebuilds.