Automatic Trans Shift Cable Replacement Cost Estimate

Shift cables are simple to diagnose, especially for a trained technician who has seen them over and over throughout their career. If there is no result to moving the shifter through the ranges, the technician will check for breakage of the cable first. Also, if the gear selector shows great difficulty in shifting through the ranges, the technician will likely disconnect the shift cable to see if there is a change in resistance. Lastly, if the selector does not set the shift shaft dead center of the drive range on the transmission, the technician will adjust the shift cable, and test to see if the condition has been corrected or if the condition has moved to another range. If the condition is not corrected, the automatic transmission shift cable will be replaced.

First, the trim and shift boot will be removed from the console or steering column. This grants access to disconnect the automatic transmission shift cable from the gear selector. Next, the cable is removed from the shift shaft on the transmission or transaxle before it is threaded out of the vehicle body and replaced. The rubber grommet that surrounds the shift cable where it makes entry into the body of the vehicle will be replaced, even if it is not included on the new cable assembly. Once the new cable is threaded in and connected to the gear selector and transmission, the interior trim can be replaced. Finally, if adjustment is possible and necessary, the servicing technician will adjust the cable so the transmission shift shaft position directly correlates to the gear selector position in the vehicle.

We do not recommend replacing a non-adjustable cable with an adjustable cable as a means of compensating for a shift shaft and gear selector that may be out of adjustment. The reason for this is that the malalignment is likely due to wear of the shift shaft bushing of gear selector bushings. If this is the case, even installing an adjustable cable will not correct the issue, and the transmission will not shift true to the gear selector.

Failing to replace the water sealing grommet which surrounds the automatic transmission shift cable will result in water intrusion into the vehicle. For automatic transmission shift cables which exit from the firewall, behind the engine, this will also lead to harsh smells from the engine bay entering the vehicle. It is always necessary to reseal the exit point of the automatic transmission shift cable to prevent these undesirable consequences.

This is a perfect job for a DIY project that takes less than an hour. Diagnostics is as easy as listed above, and replacement requires few tools in most cases. Note, electronic shifters with shift motors installed on the transmissions will not have an automatic transmission shift cable, and failure of the transmission to actuate will certainly require more advanced diagnostics.