Shift cable — replacement and adjustment

Replacement

Warning: Models covered by this manual are equipped with a Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), more commonly known as airbags. Always disable the airbag system before working in the vicinity of any airbag system component to avoid the possibility of accidental deployment of the airbag, which could cause personal injury (see Chassis electrical system).

1. Disconnect the cable from the negative terminal of the battery (see Battery — disconnection and reconnection).

2. Place the transmission in PARK and apply the parking brake.

3. Block the rear wheels so the vehicle will not accidentally roll in either direction. Raise the front of the vehicle and support it securely on jack stands.

4. Disconnect the shift cable from the trans- mission shift lever ball stud (see illustration).

3.4 Use a screwdriver to pry the shift cable off the shift lever at the transmission

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Use a screwdriver to pry the shift cable off the shift lever at the transmission

5. Unclip the cable from its retainer. Disengage the shift cable from the cable bracket on the transmission (see illustration).

3.5 Remove the retaining clip and detach the shift cable from the bracket

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Remove the retaining clip and detach the shift cable from the bracket

6. Working inside of the vehicle, remove the knee bolster from below the steering column (see Body).

7. Pry the shift cable ball socket from the shift lever ball pivot (see illustration).

3.7 Pry the shift cable ball socket (A) from the shift lever ball pivot (B)

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Pry the shift cable ball socket (A) from the shift lever ball pivot (B)

8. Remove the retainer securing the cable to the steering column bracket.

9. Remove the door sill plate and the left kick panel from the vehicle, then peel back the carpeting.

10. Trace the cable to the cable grommet (the point at which it goes through the floorboard). Pry out the grommet and pull the upper cable up through the hole in the floor to remove it (see illustration).

3.10 The cable grommet is located on the floorboard just in front of the driver’s seat

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ The cable grommet is located on the floorboard just in front of the driver's seat

11. Installation is the reverse of removal.

Adjustment

12. Make sure the driver’s shift lever and the transmission shift lever are in the park position.

13. Pull the white cover back to expose the lock (see illustration).

3.13 Pull the white cover back to expose the lock

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Pull the white cover back to expose the lock

14. Disengage the lock using pliers or similar (see illustration). The lock will pop up, and the transmission end will move slightly away from the shifter end.

3.14 Disengage the lock using pliers

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Disengage the lock using pliers

15. While holding the shift lever end of the cable in one hand and the transmission end of the cable in the other hand (see illustration), line-up the outside diameter of the transmission end, with the inside diameter of the shift lever end.

3.15 Hold the shift lever end of the cable (A) in one hand and the transmission end of the cable (B) in the other hand

Chevrolet Silverado Automatic transmission _ Hold the shift lever end of the cable (A) in one hand and the transmission end of the cable (B) in the other hand

6. Push the transmission end inside the shift lever end until the blue spring on the transmission end is fully compressed; this will engage the inner wire and lock both wires together.

Caution: DO NOT hold the transmission end during this operation, this will result in a misadjusted cable.

17. Release the lower (transmission) end of the cable and allow the blue spring to self-adjust the cable. The blue spring must be free standing with no manual help to properly adjust the cable.

18. Pull back the white plastic collar on the shift lever end of the cable connector and insert the cable connector retaining clip (see illustration 3.6).

19. Verify that the cable connector retaining clip is fully seated and that the white plastic collar slides back over the cable connector retaining clip. Test the vehicle for proper shift operation.

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