# Truck Does Not Shift But Still Drives **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [May 23, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266 "2017-05-23T20:08:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/1 "2017-05-23T20:08:34Z")
So I have a 1998 Ford F-150 she is stuck in drive the shifter moves but she doesn’t change. It will not go into reverse, but she still runs and drives. It has never happened before and I’m not sure what to do can anyone help? ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/2 "2017-05-23T20:23:43Z")
Just to clarify. This thing is stuck in drive, but when you take off from a stop it shifts through all gears? The only thing that does not work is reverse? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/3 "2017-05-23T20:30:06Z")
Most likely a broken linkage, any garage should be able to fix this. ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/4 "2017-05-23T21:27:06Z")
OK so my brother has the truck and he said that it is stuck in second. I’m not really sure what is happening. ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/5 "2017-05-23T21:30:14Z")
Until you have actual symptoms to post you will not receive many good suggestions. My thought of linkage problems just went out the door. ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:30pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/6 "2017-05-23T21:30:45Z")
STuck in drive, would make us think that it is an automatic trans. How are you starting this, without being able to shift to neutral or park??? Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/7 "2017-05-23T21:42:35Z")
Yes it is an automatic transmission ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/8 "2017-05-23T21:44:00Z")
I’m giving you the information that my brother is giving to me because he has the truck right now. ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 9:52pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/9 "2017-05-23T21:52:33Z")
Here ill say this my automatic transmission is in drive, the shifter moves around to park and reverse but it never comes out of drive. So when it says it is in park it is still in drive. When it is put in reverse and you pus the gas you still go forward instead of back. ---
**Author:** ![kurtwm1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/13edae/32.png) [@kurtwm1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/kurtwm1)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/10 "2017-05-23T22:03:55Z")
How do you know it is in “drive” and not in 1st, 2nd or other forward gear? Someone else already asked, how do you start this thing unless it is in Park or Neutral" ---
**Author:** ![Yosemite](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/yosemite/32/643_2.png) [@Yosemite](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Yosemite)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/11 "2017-05-23T22:07:05Z")
If you can still shift it, but on the dash the pointer for “P R N D L” does not move…that the problem is in the instrument cluster. You will have to pull the cluster out and examine it. Yosemite ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2017, 10:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/12 "2017-05-23T22:20:07Z")
Sounds like the gear selector cable is broken or disconnected however you wouldn’t be able to start the engine if the transmission is in drive. ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 2:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/13 "2017-05-24T02:22:28Z")
Let me talk to my brother to see if it is stuck in “1st, 2nd, or another gear” like i said i dont have the truck with me im giving you information im getting fro my brother. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/14 "2017-05-24T03:34:36Z")
I have a 70’s Ford truck, automatic equipped, so a little experience anyway. What your bro needs is ti get a helper to look under the truck at the transmission while your bro shifts the lever back and forth. The engine doesn’t need to be running, just do this when the truck is parked and parking brake on, make sure it can’t roll. The good thing about a truck is it sits high enough you can probably do this without jacking it up. The driver’s shifting likely transfers down the column to a cable connected to a lever on the side of the transmission. The helper should look to see if that lever is moving or not. They’ll have to look on both sides to figure out where the lever is probably. I expect it isn’t moving with the shifting action, indicating the cable is probably broken. Checking the transmission fluid level would make sense of course, if such a thing is easily doable on that truck. If it becomes too much of a burden, just tow it to a shop. It won’t cost much for a shop appraisal of the situation, and will be easier on your bro’s and his assistant’s back and clothing. ---
**Author:** ![rpbfootbal1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/rpbfootbal1/32/7481_2.png) [@rpbfootbal1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/rpbfootbal1)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2017, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/15 "2017-05-24T03:48:41Z")
Thank you I will have them do that. ---
**Author:** ![Andy-Ke](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/andy-ke/32/41664_2.png) [@Andy-Ke](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Andy-Ke)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/truck-does-not-shift-but-still-drives/104266/16 "2017-05-25T03:09:08Z")
Good point. And how is he backing the car up ? Pushing it ?