Can't Get Van to Shift into Drive!

[CREGAN]

It is -27 here and I went out and started my van today - no problems there. Fired right up as it should since it was plugged in. Then after about 10 minutes I jumped in and tried to throw it into drive and the shift lever would not budge! I thought it might just be cold so after several swear words and a half hour of idling, it was able to go into drive, but not willingly. The only thing done differently when I shut it down yesterday was that I left it in 4L. Is this due to the extreme cold? Any things I can do to resolve this or make it easier to actually get it into drive? Looking for some kind of solution as tomorrow is supposed to be even colder here. I don't have a garage door big enough to fit it in so it gets to sit outside, forever. Friggin Arctic wind. Thanks

Edit: My old man just mentioned that the transmission oil could be too thick and when it is this cold it turns to sludge. Should I try to get it in somewhere and switch the oil to a lighter weight for winter? Anyone (Mardy) know what weight it is right now or should be?

Craig

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

You can't shift in any position, i.e 4H and 2H or just 4L?
1. no shift in all position ; cable connected to gear shift is frozen. You need to wait until it melt down.
2. no shift in just 4L ; I'd like to stand by your old man.

Steven

[jessef]

Your old man is correct.

Had that problem last winter when trekking up black tusk in the Safari. I had to wait over half an hour to shift it. It's the fluid gelling and not allowing the valves to shift in the transmission.

I did a flush a few days later using redline and the problem never surfaced again. Try doing a good flush and use redline synthetic. It's the best ATF fluid for sub zero temps.

http://www.redlineoil.com/Products.aspx?pcid=9

[CREGAN]

You can't shift in any position, i.e 4H and 2H or just 4L?
1. no shift in all position ; cable connected to gear shift is frozen. You need to wait until it melt down.
2. no shift in just 4L ; I'd like to stand by your old man.

Steven

No, sorry Steven, I meant the actual gear shifter on the steering column. It seems locked in P until it sits and warms up for a half hour or so. The 4wd drive one moves without problems.

Jesse - Thanks for the link to Redline. Which one should be used for where I am? Temps are usually -10 to -15 with the odd week or two at -30 or so.

[psilosin]

Brrrrr! Might help to get one of those magnetic block/oilpan heaters and stick it to the tranny to pre-warm it just like your block heater warms your coolant at least until you can change the tranny oil. Prob not the funnest getting underneath the vehicle 2x a day to attach/remove though.

[jessef]

For winter use Redline D6 ATF and summer ATF D4.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much smoother your auto will shift after using this fluid. It's amazing stuff.

[Rising Sun Auto Import]

You can't shift in any position, i.e 4H and 2H or just 4L?
1. no shift in all position ; cable connected to gear shift is frozen. You need to wait until it melt down.
2. no shift in just 4L ; I'd like to stand by your old man.

Steven

No, sorry Steven, I meant the actual gear shifter on the steering column. It seems locked in P until it sits and warms up for a half hour or so. The 4wd drive one moves without problems.

Did you try shifting while applying brake pedal ( push brake pedel several times )?
If not working nevertheless, you may need to check brake switch or unlocking solenoid.

Steven

[CREGAN]

Did you try shifting while applying brake pedal ( push brake pedel several times )?
If not working nevertheless, you may need to check brake switch or unlocking solenoid.

Steven

Yes, I did try several times applying the brake and shifting, just applying the brake several times and then trying to shift. It just wouldn't budge. After letting it sit idling for about 30-45 minutes I was able to put it into gear but it was not very smooth. I am under the impression that a tranny fluid change might be in order. Hopefully that won't be too much of a cost to get done around here in the land of the big spenders. They want a mint for everything here.

I found a place that sells Redline here in Edmonton so i will pick some up and bring it in to the shop to get it put in. Is it going to be hard to get a Non-Delica shop to do this? About how much fluid do I need?

Craig

[CREGAN]

So, another question here: When I take it into the shop do they have to remove the pan and clean the filter to change the oil in the transmission? Is there simply a drain plug that they can pull and let it drain that way, paying no attention to the filter, and then refill through the dipstick tube? I am going to be going through Van in the summer so i would like to get fluid changes done properly there- so I don't really want to have these monkeys here offering to replace this filter (at a very unreasonable cost).

Craig

[psilosin]

You should not have to take the pan off and change filter to do a quickie ATF flush and fill, leave the filter change etc until you do your west coast super service.

The simplest is like you said...drain the sump and refill through the dipstick tube. An easy one man job...but not at -27oC!! There will still be a fair amount of the oil fluid left doing it this way but it would still be a big improvement since it would mostly be new oil.

Next up is a little trickier but is real pro like oh my brother...have 2 people, put in an extra couple of litres of fluid, take the return line off and place it into a bucket to collect garbage oil, then have someone start the car, once the car is started keep filling up the trans with fresh oil via dipstick tube, once the colour of the fluid coming out the hose in the bucket looks clean and new turn the car off, put your cooler line back on and get your fluid level right. That method gives you almost a complete flush and fill but you end up wasting oil in the flush...and redline is not cheap!

[jessef]

Craig

This is the best way to get the old stuff out and redline in.

This is a valuable purchase: transparent 4L plastic jug with mL measuring increments and a 2nd and 3rd is possible 4L jug.

Pull out the transmission dipstick completely to allow the draining process to breath.

There is a 12mm bolt on the bottom of the transmission pan. Take the measuring jug and put it underneath. Undo the 12mm bolt. It will come out quick so be ready.

As it gets near the 4L of the first jug, swap it over to an empty one to continue the cycle.

Once it's all drained tighten back the 12mm bolt and measure to see how much exactly came out. You will use this measurement to put back via the dipstick tube (you need a hose that fit inside the dipstick tube and one that will on the filler end connect to a oil/fluid filler.

Pour back the amount that came out above with redline.

For reference, a complete flush should be just over 8 liters.

This should tie you over, however if you want to give it the 5 star treatment as Brad mentioned above, (this is a 2 person job) you'll need to flush it.

Redline is not cheap so it's fine if you leave it at that. But to get all the old stuff out, you have no choice but to flush it out with redline.

Since 80% of the fluid is now fresh redline, it shouldn't take long to flush out the front end cooler and lines.

One step is to have someone at the driver's seat foot on the brake, e-brake on and wheels chalked, shift through all the gears while doing the flush. This will cycle the mechanics/valving and get all the gunk out.

I would buy 12L of redline. Use 6L for the drain and the other 6L for the flush.

Trust me, your trans will operate cooler (if you've got a temp gauge you'll see what I'm talking about) and shift smoother as well as operate like it should in sub zero temps.

Good luck !

[CREGAN]

Well it was -33 last night and it is -29 right now, so I think I will leave it parked where it sits right now until it warms up a tiny bit. Supposed to get to -36 tonight. Don't want to risk having things happen like the other Alberta Deli-drivers. Did anyone else notice most of the "Holy Crap! Help me!" posts were from Alberta Delicas? It went from +10 a week ago to -30. Stupid prairies.

Craig

[MardyDelica]

hi, craig,
did replace your filter and transmission oil on you L400 when you got it.
depends on how many kms you are in right now.
not easy to change it. need to take out the cross member to change it.
let the trusted shop do it ask them first the labor as they might charge you too much.
i charge $125 + tax all in for this job. dont know in your area.
same filter as 1992 montero 3 liter.
for now try to used w40 penetrating oil to loosen the module which frozed thru the linkage.
as per warming up the transmission pan used a ceramic heater put in full blast for 20 minute near the transmission
pan then your be ok to drive.
just simple little solution for now
cheer;s
Mardy

[Manitoba deli]

Hey Craig, if you simply can't get the shifter out of park, it is quite possible that the release mechanism for the brake pedal safety switch is sticking. The brake pedal is pulling the cable properly, but the little mechanism in the steering column isn't releasing due to stiff grease. This has been a problem with quite a few l400's in colder climates. There was a good pictorial write up on fixing it by green1 but he may have deleted it when he left the forum in a huff. Sorry I don't have time to search for it right now. I can tell you the culprit mechanism is on the left side of the steering column, you can follow the cable from the brake pedal to it. Washing it down with WD-40 frees it up and your good again. Biggest problem is taking the plastic covers off the steering column in the cold. For one of mine, I simply put a 1500watt space heater in the van while letting it warm up. Did this for a week until I could get the van in the shop. Let me know if you can't find green1's posts, as I have one l400 in the shop, and I can probably take it apart to take a picture for you.

Jason

[VanVonVan]

For winter use Redline D6 ATF and summer ATF D4.

You'll be pleasantly surprised at how much smoother your auto will shift after using this fluid. It's amazing stuff.

So you flush your transmission every spring and fall I thought a tranny flush was once every 2 years?