I got into my truck this morning, started it and after warming it up proceeded to put it into gear as usual. It was in park and the shifter acted as though it was broke. I could move it up and down thru the gears and wouldnt. engage. I thought it was a broken cable so I just had it towd to the Dodge place and they called me at work and said that it was something that had broke in the steering column and it was unserviceable. They told me it would cost 1600.00 just for the part and 2030.00 installed. The mechanic said he saw some plastic pieces fall as he took the cover off and also said that there is no diagram in their repari manuals to even see what it looks like inside. It doesnt sound right to me that a broken shifter should need a whole 1600.00 steering column replacement to fix it. The rep at the Chrysler main site also told me that a 98 is an old truck and 80,000 miles is a lot of miles. I dont believe that crap, I have an 89 toyota that has 265,000 mile and the shifter is just fine. He may as well of told me to buy toyota products. Just want to know if someone else has had a similar problem or knows something about this situation or advise....Thanks Jbronx5
Dodge Q&A
Ask Your Question1998 Dodge Ram 2500 Question: steering column
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Answer #1
hemicuda February 12, 2009, 09:23Reply
MasterI have the exact same year dodge diesel with 231,000 miles and never had a problem but I found this site that carries used steering columns, Now you just need to find a shop to R & R the column. http://www.everdrive.com/partdetails.aspx?sku=1172618
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Answer #2
idavidb March 07, 2009, 14:20ReplyRookieYes i have had this happen to me. I have an 99 Dodge Ram with 218,000 miles on her. My wife was driving it and one day she called me and said she was parked in a parking lot and the shifter acted like it was broke. I crawled underneath to see that 2 bolts that hold the shifter linkage to the frame had broke off an it was hanging. When I held it in place the truck would go into gear. An easy fix after spending all day trying to remove the old broken bolts,
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Answer #3
Visitor, July 14, 2010, 15:27Replyigot 1998 dodge ram igot the same problem as yours.i m tryinng to dessambly the steerin column.
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Answer #4
v-10 January 08, 2012, 16:04ReplyRookieOK GUYS -- TORE MY STEERING COLUMN OUT TODAY. THE SHIFT COLUMN FROM STEERING WHEEL TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT IS TWO TUBES, THE STEERING WHEEL END SLIPES INSIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TUBE. THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT TUBE HAS TWO SLITS ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE TUBE (ABOUT 1 INCH LONG BY 32ND WIDE RUNNING LENGTH OF TUBE. THE STEERING WHEEL END TUBE THAT SLIPS INSIDE THE LOWER TUBE HAS INDENTATIONS THAT LOOK LIKE THE OLD CARTOON BARBELLS OR DUMBBELLS. WHEN THE TWO TUBES ARE SLID TOGETHER THE FACTORY INJECTED AN APPOXY IN THE SLITS FILLING UP THE DUMBBELL INDENTATIONS AND THE SLITS ON OUTER TUBE. THE TABS THAT ARE CREATED BY FILLING THE SLITS HAVE BROKEN OFF, CAUSEING THE UPPER SHIFT TUBE TO ROTATE FREELY IN LOWRER TUBE. I AM EITHER GOING TO INJECT APPOXY OR A MORE PERMINAT FIX WOULD TO TO SPOT WELD THE TWO TUBE. TOOK ME ABOUT 2.5 HOUR TO MESS AROUND AND GET COLUMN OUT AND 45 MINUTES TO FIGURE PROBLEM AND COME UP WITH A FIX. aNY CHEWING GUM BAILING WIRE BACK YARD MECHNIC COULD FIX THIS PROBLEM FOR ALOT LESS THAN 2000 BUCKS. I COULD FIX SOME ONE ELSES TRUCK FOR $500.00 AND MAKE OUT LIKE A BANDIT. HOPE THIS HELPS HOWARD
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