That was exactly it! The lever would go down into reverse and drive with some effort. But even more effort was required to bring it back up to reverse and park. I thought I must fix this before I get stuck. I was starting to research how to replace the shift cable. There was a video about replacing the bushing, another one about replacing the actual cable. Then I landed on this video! So I disconnected the shift cable and the transmission lever like you said, applied Amsoil Metal Protector to the lever where it meets with the transmission, moved that lever back and forth by hand 20 or so times. Then with the cable still disconnected I went inside the van and moved the lever; it moved freely so obviously the cable is good. I reconnected the cable to the transmission, went inside the van, and the lever now moves up and down freely. It took me 30 minutes, and cost me 2 or 3 squirts of Metal Protector et voila! God bless you!
You are a life saver. Been having a hard time shifting into park but it finally got stuck at the mall in -15 c weather. I was able to get it into park and then drive the car home. Will try and see if penetrating oil will fix my problem. I will report later. Thank you!
Did it work? My mom van just did the same thing, she's been having problems shifting for a while and it finally got completely jammed. Not moving at all.
It worked almost 80%. I can feel it's not smoothly going into park. So my guess will be more penetrating oil and continue to work the shaft back and forth. I can tell that I got a huge relief learning from this video
Due to the pandemic, I put my 2010 Caravan out of road for some time, I got exactly the same problem as you described. I thought it would be hundreds of dollars damage, but with your instruction, I got the problem fixed in five minutes. Just spay WD 40 at the point you indicated and force the shift moving towards and away from parking, it is fixed! Thank you so much!
Cool! I knew I would have to manually move it, but I thought my issue was with the plastic release hidden above the shift lever. Now I see how the rust issue is most likely my problem. Thanks!
Thanks man, my dad was half way taking the car apart trying to troubleshoot it before I pulled out the tube. Turns out the transmission cable just popped off
Didn't anyone ever show you the place on the dash next to the shifter where you just put a rod down a little hole and it unlocks the shifter? My god its the easiest way to fix it and if you read the manual it shows how simple it is.
Tom - that's if the battery dies - mine is because of rust on the selector shaft on the transmission - hitting that button will do exactly nothing - guess you didn't watch much of the video
Have 141k miles on my 2012 caravan, was going to run an errand today and couldn't get it out of park, 2 sites showed how to get to the park release button but said I'd have to do that every time! Thanks for the extra help am going to try it
Great tip! Mine is having the microswitch issue where it WILL shift to park and back, but won't release the key fob. So annoying! I don't really want to tear apart my dash, but I'm afraid that's the only way to permanently fix the little switch. For now, just a few extra flicks of the shifter button have been enough to bump the microswitch and release the fob.
I'm so very glad I found your video on the gear shift issue. I too have a 2010 Dodge Grand Caravan in red, with the 3.3 litre V6 and my gear shifter is sticking / jamming exactly as shown. I'll be having a closer look in the morning to see what I can do to make things better. Thanks.
I am a single mom I was stuck at the gas station Grand thank you to your knowledge I was able to get myself out with no help I am so thankful I seen your video thank God you share your knowledge
Thank you for sharing. had this done 3 years ago by garage ( they told me, cheap fix) and worked fine till know. I will try this tomorrow and update my comment. have a great day.
@@carquestions Your video let me know where to look, so I was able to lube up the rusty part and get things shifting more smoothly again. Have to see if I've done enough to keep it healthy, but I've got my spray and hammer ready if it acts up. $10 for a can of lube/anti-rust spray is worlds better than I feared to sort this out!
Does that apply to my 2008 Dodge grand Caravan with the six speed automatic? Because I have a similar situation. It gets stuck in park. However I can’t start it I just can’t shift it out of park. And then when it sits overnight I can go back out and it will come out of park and I can drive it but I don’t wanna put it back in Park so I’ve been leaving it in neutral
Mine would move easily into park,reverse and neutral. Would not go into drive. I sprayed the linkage under the hood and got someone to move shifter in car while I helped likage with pliers. Finally moved into drive. Kept spraying and going up and down the shifter range and freed right up. Works like a champ now.
Yup...the sitting for a long time seems to cause this. An acquaintance bought a year old on the lot . A brand new 3.3 Grand Caravan back in 2010 or 2009 (during the housing meltdown) and the first time parked on an incline in the driveway it wouldn't leave park. It really raised a scare about a lemon, at first. This particular model had sat on the lot for a long time before being sold. Towed it to the dealership and it was fixed (for free of course). Never happened again, until once, 12 years later. Solution we used was 1) apply parking break then 2)get out and push it forward slightly on the incline park, that seemed to have unbinded it and got it to shift with no problems. It seems the parking cawl in the transmission can get stuck as well. That shifter interface to the transmission shaft was never lubricated in 12 years, but was located and done just after that second incident (before your video confirmed the issue just now). It looked a little crusty by now, being in the salt belt :-). Never got stuck again. Also tend to use the parking brake now more often to try and not to wear out that parking cawl in the transmission. Its been a reliable beast of burden for 12 years and still going! Bring back the 3.3! (unless you tow luxury liners all the time).
Omg thank you my 2009 wouldn't go into park at random times .I just got stuck in a car wash .thankfully this video popped up and saved my day! And my son's. He has autism and was less than amused we were stuck
Similar thing just happened in my 2010 Grand Caravan. Once off Park, the transmission lever was easy to move, but would not "move far enough" to register the "Park" position. Penetrating oil seems to have done the trick! (and the "unlock" lever to take it off Park is also usefull!).
2010 caravan, almost a similar problem. When I shift into drive, it will easily slip into Neutral, and won't stay into drive unless I hold it there. Any idea what it could be? Seeing if it's something I might be able to fix myself, without hitting up my mechanic
Ya - lubricate the hell out of the lever and shaft coming out of the transmission as well as all cables - then work the shifter like a madman - back and forth to free it up - sounds like sticking cable or shaft - let me know how you make out - cheers!
I have a 2008 4.0 caravan and had the same problem. Sprayed heavily with JB-80, tapped with a hammer at the end of a long screwdriver and it's free. Thanks
Great video but,... at the most important part for me I hear you say what you are doing but I can't see. You arm or shoulder is in the way. Hard to get a camera in the right place where you can speak AND work visibly. Maybe it will make sense when I'm under the hood.
I have an 09 town and country. Did this exact same thing when I was 3 hours away from home. I followed your advise and it got me home. I am able to freely move the shaft that comes out of the transmission by hand. However, when I reattach the shifter cable, I am able to use the shifter knob on the dash for forward reverse and neutral, but when I try to put it in park, the shifter knob locks up and the transmission stays in reverse. What could be causing this? Thank you so much for any help. Austin
I just wanted to comment again and say that I solved this issue using an article that was posted in a comment further down on this video about replacing the shifting mechanism on the dash. The shift cable had come out of the mechanism housing just behind the lowest bolt on the shifter assembly. I want to say thank you for posting this video. As I stated in my first comment, my wife, three young children, and myself were able to limp it home from 3 hours away with your help. Stay safe.
I have an 08 Caravan, I can go drive and it’s fine but then I put it in park and it immediately gets stuck in park… not only that the vehicle is running and I can turn the key to the opposition and take the key out but the motor continues to run while it’s stuck in park
I'm about to work on a 99 intrepid it will not shift into park ,the shifter works in all gears but park, if I put it in neutral and shut car off and put shifter in park re start the car it's in reverse, I don't know what else to do
My shifter started sticking after the mechanic kept replacing the brake pedal switch. He somehow disconnected the safety I guess on the shifter so it stops getting stuck. My key comes out fine the shifter was just sticking and not moving from park. Now it shifts with no foot on brake or vehicle running. How did they do this and is it okay to continue to drive this way? I was told it was a $600 part new not including labor. Plus all my brakes lights tire pressure sensor lights keep popping on the mechanic I bought it from I was told wired the brake box wrong so the sensors are popping on randomly cuz there is a short in the brake box due to messed up wiring. So I guess my ABS and traction control is not on thanks to this wiring issue. Does this sound right before I spend $280 on rewiring the brake box and a brake hose that keeps sticking on my back brake?
Also before this dealer mechanic took the safety off shifter it would dislodge by unlocking and locking the vehicle with the key several times but that eventually became annoying.
Amy - If you decide to go to the mechanic and spend another $280 make them promise before they start that what they will do will fix the car for sure is not a "maybe" it will fix it situation - if you spend $280 you want the problem fixed for good so don't spend the money unless they have found the root problem for sure. - Cheers from Canada!
I have a 2016 grand caravan, it starts but when i put into drive or reverse car does not move, is my transmission gone, before this happens when I was driving there was a strange sound coming from under the hood. Thanks.
Geat video i have thr dodge grand caravan 2009 and i cant see how to use the low gear i move the shifter to minus to move it to one but does.not show on screen i dont think it changes anything
Hello. My gear shift knob button is loose. I can shift back and forth easy but my key will not come out. Any ideas as to why this may be happening. Thank you
Hello there quick question is there a Spring inside of the gear shift knob itself?? My gear shift knob came off, I replaced the gear shift knob with my old one but my keys are not coming out of the Ignition
Yes there is Clauge - but not sure for certain that would be your problem - disconnect transmission cable at transmission then place in park to see if keys come our - block wheels first for safety - Cheers from Canada!
You need to replace the cable - they don't put on extra parts for noe reason - that said it might or might not work without it - try it and let me know
@@carquestions thanks for the speedy reply. I believe the replacement of the shift cable to be beyond my capabilities (and it's too cold), would you recommend I take it to the dealership or an independent auto shop or even a shop that specializes in transmission?
The shifter mechanism gets stuck as well. I have to hand palm up hard on the shifter or it won't go into "P" electronically on the dash even though the van is in park. It's almost like there is a little electronic button the shifter has to touch for the vans computer to fully register park. Thanks for the video, I'm gonna play around with it more tomorrow.
I noticed nobody responded to your post as my 2011 T &C is similar problem to yours and hoped for a respone. Maybe original post to old as the guy is good. My PRNDstays "electronically" in R as has the red light lit up ,however, shift cable freely moves so computer thinks car is in R so NEVER cranks. Starter is good as i can hot wire starter solnoid by touchingnumber 30/85 in fuse box and starter cranks.Also i can make fuel pump come on by a hot wire method. I am thinking a saftey neutral switch but van not showing that code.Very frustrating as already replace new WIN module for $600...
As you're taping, and if someone is not inside, how do you know what gear you're taping the transmission into? Or is the object just to "free" the cable? Thanks.
Not sure if you have same model. On my '05 T&C the gear indicator is linked to the the transmission and not the cable. So if you rotate it by hand, just go back inside and check the position reading.
I have a problem with my Dodge Journey 2010. Two days ago I went for a drive and it suddenly changed into 2. gear...something like safe mode. I could also put it in reverse, then I parked him and prepared myself for a little mech work. Today...the gas pedal doesn't work. I can't even change gears.. nothing. When I put in manual, it only shows PRND. I plug it in the OBD, it shows like the 6th gear is stuck.. Help anyone please.. 🙏
You can disconnect the battery for 20 minutes and jiggle the wires near the TIPM - but this my be a TIPM problem (google it) - sounds like a trip to the transmission shop as soon as you can if that doesn't work.
Thanks! My dads 09 town and country has been having this issue, will be doing this tomorrow morning, another issue has been that the shift lock release used to work getting from park to drive, but it no longer does, you think think that may all be part of the same problem?
@@carquestions so I went to my dads today, and came across something interesting, the issue doesn’t seem to be where I thought, rather the shifter itself, when I go to press the button it doesn’t not push in all the way through, and I have to squeeze at a weird angle, I unscrewed the shifter knob and tried pushing it down manually and it does the same, so im assuming the issue would be the shifter itself ? Lol id appreciate any input you may have
I just had this problem, Now I can move it but I can’t get it to go in gear it just shows a square on all gears. The key comes out but I can’t start it can you help?
If there is a square on all gears, check the battery terminals make sure they are tight and engine ground straps of course. If it won't go into gear, check that the cable was properly reconnected
I did exactly what you say and it moves easily, changed the whole shifter assembly and cable is fine too. Still stuck in reverse and can't start? Any idea's? I'm thinking something electrical or computer? solenoid or something? ready to burn this thing lol
Start it in neutral. I'd say if its still sitting in reverse you have to adjust the cable. Loosen that small 5/16 bolt on the cable where it attaches to the shaft, make sure the shaft is all the way forward in the "park" position and the shifter lever inside the van is in "park" position as well, then tighten the bolt on the cable.
The little square that you can peel up and use a screen driver to press the button inside worked but still kinda curious why it doesn't turn off sometimes
@@carquestions we have to get the van towed , we don’t have a scan tool but our mechanic does. I ended up putting the car it neutral and it started once. But now won’t start again