2003 Kia Spectra stuck in drive

GEORGETHEO

MEMBER
2003 KIA SPECTRA
4 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
130,000 MILES

I have a 2003 Kia Spectra. Up to this point it has been running great and have had no problems. I went out today and realized I have to jiggle the Shifter to get it in park so I could start the car. It acted as if when I had stopped it didn't go all the way into park and was stuck between reverse and park and so it would not start. After I juggled the shifter it did start. I went ahead and left the house for my destination. When I arrived I could not put the car in park the shifter would go up and down the column between parked all the way down through first gear But acted as if none of the other gears were even there. It is an automatic transmission and is now stuck in drive even though I can move the shifter through the gears. Now obviously the car will not start because I can't get it into park or neutral. It acts as if something is loose or not making contact letting it slip into the right hole on the shifter or something. The transmission fluid looks good and the level was good. Do you have any idea what the problem might be?

1 Reply

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,737 POSTS

The shifter cable is broken or frayed, or it is disconnected on one end. I just had this same question last week, and they found it was disconnected at the transmission. Given that it acted up slowly, meaning at first it still moved but not far enough, it isn't likely it's disconnected. Rather, if the cable is not frayed and coming apart, look at where the housing is attached to see if that is loose. It takes a lot of effort to push the shifter lever on the transmission, so if the housing anchor is loose, that would slide back and forth instead of moving the shift lever. Have a helper work the shifter inside the vehicle while you watch at the transmission. (By "housing", I mean the casing around the cable).