'78 Royale can't get out of park

[ron murray]

Hi Everyone,
Yesterday I started up my '78 Royale, planning on moving it 12 spaces at my
storage site. I stepped on brake, pulled the shiftier back, an I couldn't
get it to come out of *park* into reverse. It seemed to be locked in* park.*
I turned the engine off and turned the ignition to accessory, no change,
still stuck in park. Any suggestions on how to temporally get it into
reverse so I can move it? Then what to do to permanently resolve the issue?

Ron Murray
Seattle
'78 and 2 -''77 GMC's

 

[wayne rogewski]

Is it possible that the transmission is very low on fluid?

Other than that you may need a helper to look underneath at the linkage while it is being shifted. If nothing is moving underneath than the linkage
needs to be tighted. Id go with low on ATF first though.
--
77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
Mid Michigan

 

[jim kanomata1]

Your cable must be frozen.
Has nothing to do with level of fluid.
Call me and I can show you how to finger it out

Sent from my iPhone

>
> Is it possible that the transmission is very low on fluid?
>
> Other than that you may need a helper to look underneath at the linkage while it is being shifted. If nothing is moving underneath than the linkage
> needs to be tighted. Id go with low on ATF first though.
> --
> 77 Royale, Rear Dry Bath. 403, 3.55 Final Drive, Lenzi goodies, Patterson carb and dizzy.
> Mid Michigan
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[larry.whisler]

Is it parked on an incline?

Could be the parking paw won't dissengage.

You could try pushing it a bit while moving the shifter.

larry

 

[Irish Rogue]

To Ron Murray:
Ditto what Wayne and Jim K. have said - if still no luck try this:
Go to Walmart or similar and buy a bottle of Trans X - pour half in to transmission (down dip stick tube) - wait 10 mins - start engine & try shifting into all gears 8 to 10 times - if no luck try again in 10 mins - if no luck try again in 10 more mins - if or when it starts to move limp to a mechanic to have Trans pan dropped, sludge removed, and new trans filter installed.
JWID & John Miller & others.
Good Luck in solving this and let us know how it was solved.
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

>
> Is it parked on an incline?
>
> Could be the parking paw won't dissengage.
>
> You could try pushing it a bit while moving the shifter.
>
> larry
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

 

[Jim Hupy]

Sounds like a frozen cable to me. Time for penetrating oil on the upper
part of the cable and the passage of time.
Jim Hupy

To Ron Murray:
Ditto what Wayne and Jim K. have said - if still no luck try this:
Go to Walmart or similar and buy a bottle of Trans X - pour half in to
transmission (down dip stick tube) - wait 10 mins - start engine & try
shifting into all gears 8 to 10 times - if no luck try again in 10 mins -
if no luck try again in 10 more mins - if or when it starts to move limp to
a mechanic to have Trans pan dropped, sludge removed, and new trans filter
installed.
JWID & John Miller & others.
Good Luck in solving this and let us know how it was solved.
Mike/The Corvair a holic

Sent from my iPhone

> On Oct 18, 2017, at 12:22 PM, larry.whisler
wrote:
>
> Is it parked on an incline?
>
> Could be the parking paw won't dissengage.
>
> You could try pushing it a bit while moving the shifter.
>
> larry
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org

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[LQQKatJon]

Cable is most probably frozen. Call jimk like he said and He can guide you on how to deal with that.

However just double check under the driverside outside hatch that something is not blocking the shifter arm. Between master cylinder and base of
where steering column is. I have seen stuff fall down and jam in there.
--
Jon Roche
75 palm beach
St. Cloud, MN
http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/

 

[bd5av8r]

I'd go with "stuck cable" its preventing the lever from moving the vehicle
out of park. I had a Camaro that did the same thing.

> Cable is most probably frozen. Call jimk like he said and He can guide
> you on how to deal with that.
>
> However just double check under the driverside outside hatch that
> something is not blocking the shifter arm. Between master cylinder and
> base of
> where steering column is. I have seen stuff fall down and jam in there.
> --
> Jon Roche
> 75 palm beach
> St. Cloud, MN
> http://lqqkatjon.blogspot.com/
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[Matt Colie]

> Hi Everyone,
> Yesterday I started up my '78 Royale, planning on moving it 12 spaces at my storage site. I stepped on brake, pulled the shiftier back, an I
> couldn't get it to come out of *park* into reverse. It seemed to be locked in* park.*
> I turned the engine off and turned the ignition to accessory, no change, still stuck in park. Any suggestions on how to temporally get it into
> reverse so I can move it? Then what to do to permanently resolve the issue?
>
> Ron Murray

Ron,

This is a jury rig, and like any jury rig, it will get you moving but after that.....

As those that know have said, it is probably the cable - that does seem to be the common mode failure. It goes from the column down to the
transmission on the vehicle left (drivers) side. With the engine room hatch open and the crew support device (Belly Board) in place, I can reach
mine. The cable is connected to the operating lever with a clevis pin and a cotter. Once the clevis is out, you should be able to move the lever -
even out of park - by hand. If the coach is not on level ground, either have a helper to stand on the brake petal or at least chock the wheels so she
doesn't roll.

Once you can shift it, make a note to get the cable out and lube it or replace it. (Lubeing this kind of cable after it has been seized has about a
50% success rate (in my experience). They are not all that hard to remove and replace.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[Ken B]

Very common problem on parked coaches. The bottom boot rots out and moisture gets in there. I have not been able to find a source for a new boot
including Jim K. Jim does have the complete cable with boot. I have to lube mine once a year. Some day I'll remove my cable and coat the bottom
with anti-seize.
--
Ken Burton - N9KB
76 Palm Beach
Hebron, Indiana

 

[john r. lebetski]

Open drivers hood and spray CRC chain and cable lube in under cable boot. Use the straw that comes with the can and work it in under the boot end by
slightly pinching. Get it at least half way and connect can and spray liberally. This way gravity is your friend and the jacket acts like a conduit.
This is smelly stuff with graphite that will stain clothes and hands----so you know it's good. Fixed it and for good here.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II

 

[ron murray]

Thanks to ALL!
The cable was the issue. I have owned my '77 Eleganza since '84 and I have
never had an issue of not being able to shift out of park. I disconnected
cable from the bottom trans shiftier, than shifted by hand till I moved
100' to new location.

There was 3 possible issues:
1) was steering column locked up? (unhooked cable, shiftier worked fine).
2) hookup cable to steering column, unhook bottom of cable at trans,
shiftier won't move.
3) was trans broken? No, moved the trans lever from park to reverse etc.*
therefore it was a corroded cable.*

I have never felt so helpless when I couldn't drive or tow the coach.

THANKS AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGEABLE GMC
FRIENDS!!!!

Ron Murray
Seattle
'78 & 2 - '77 GMC's

*(Soon to be selling all 3, I've gotten to old to tinker)*

- 1978 Royale 403 Central Kit on passenger side. (85k miles)
- 1977 Eleganza 455 Rear dinette (bed) (65k miles)
- 1977 Royale 455 Rear Bath (dry) (55k miles)
- 26' storage trailer full of corduroy furniture, wood cabinets, and
various used parts ie (bumpers, mirrors, sink, toilet, doors etc.) most
form a recycled 77 Eleganza.

On Wed, Oct 18, 2017 at 5:43 PM, John R. Lebetski
wrote:

> Open drivers hood and spray CRC chain and cable lube in under cable boot.
> Use the straw that comes with the can and work it in under the boot end by
> slightly pinching. Get it at least half way and connect can and spray
> liberally. This way gravity is your friend and the jacket acts like a
> conduit.
> This is smelly stuff with graphite that will stain clothes and hands----so
> you know it's good. Fixed it and for good here.
> --
> John Lebetski
> Woodstock, IL
> 77 Eleganza II
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[jim kanomata1]

What is surprising to most of us is that this happens so fast, that there
is no warning.
One time I had a fair warning when my shifter was getting hard to shift.
Did I fix it then? NO, it locked up when we stopped for dinner. I swore it
was not the cable but I was wrong.

> Thanks to ALL!
> The cable was the issue. I have owned my '77 Eleganza since '84 and I have
> never had an issue of not being able to shift out of park. I disconnected
> cable from the bottom trans shiftier, than shifted by hand till I moved
> 100' to new location.
>
> There was 3 possible issues:
> 1) was steering column locked up? (unhooked cable, shiftier worked fine).
> 2) hookup cable to steering column, unhook bottom of cable at trans,
> shiftier won't move.
> 3) was trans broken? No, moved the trans lever from park to reverse etc.*
> therefore it was a corroded cable.*
>
> I have never felt so helpless when I couldn't drive or tow the coach.
>
> THANKS AGAIN, I DON'T KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGEABLE GMC
> FRIENDS!!!!
>
> Ron Murray
> Seattle
> '78 & 2 - '77 GMC's
>
> *(Soon to be selling all 3, I've gotten to old to tinker)*
>
> - 1978 Royale 403 Central Kit on passenger side. (85k miles)
> - 1977 Eleganza 455 Rear dinette (bed) (65k miles)
> - 1977 Royale 455 Rear Bath (dry) (55k miles)
> - 26' storage trailer full of corduroy furniture, wood cabinets, and
> various used parts ie (bumpers, mirrors, sink, toilet, doors etc.) most
> form a recycled 77 Eleganza.
>
>
> On Wed, Oct 18, 2017 at 5:43 PM, John R. Lebetski >

>
> > Open drivers hood and spray CRC chain and cable lube in under cable boot.
> > Use the straw that comes with the can and work it in under the boot end
> by
> > slightly pinching. Get it at least half way and connect can and spray
> > liberally. This way gravity is your friend and the jacket acts like a
> > conduit.
> > This is smelly stuff with graphite that will stain clothes and
> hands----so
> > you know it's good. Fixed it and for good here.
> > --
> > John Lebetski
> > Woodstock, IL
> > 77 Eleganza II
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > GMCnet mailing list
> > Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> > http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
> >
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[Totality]

So this cable is all under the driver side hood?

Pete
--
Cary, NC

1978 Center Kitchen Royale.

 

[Matt Colie]

> So this cable is all under the driver side hood?
>
> Pete

Pete,

Indeed it is. Just the upper end, but that is the end that is just exactly the place to run in some lubricant.
If you look under that hood, you can see the steering column come through the floor and to the vehicle right a level extends from it. Just below that
level is (should be) a rubber bellows that is the weather protection for the upper end of the moving cable core.

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[robert mueller]

John,

When I was building hot rod Harleys in Hong Kong I couldn't get the pressurized cans of CRC cable lube so I mixed graphite grease
with acetone making a mix that was thin enough to run down in between the cable and housing. I'd disconnect the clutch or throttle
cables at the handlebar end and raise them. I used a small squeeze bottle to apply the mix to the exposed cable and watch the other
end. When the mix appeared at the other end I'd stop squeezing the mix on the exposed end. When the acetone evaporated the cable OD
and housing ID was coated with graphite.

Regards,
Rob M.
The Pedantic Mechanic
Sydney, Australia
AUS '75 Avion - The Blue Streak TZE365V100428
USA '75 Avion - Double Trouble TZE365V100426
USA '77 Kingsley - TZE 267V100808

-----Original Message-----
From: Gmclist [mailto:gmclist-bounces] On Behalf Of John R. Lebetski
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2017 8:43 AM
To: gmclist
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] '78 Royale can't get out of park

Open drivers hood and spray CRC chain and cable lube in under cable boot. Use the straw that comes with the can and work it in under
the boot end by slightly pinching. Get it at least half way and connect can and spray liberally. This way gravity is your friend
and the jacket acts like a conduit. This is smelly stuff with graphite that will stain clothes and hands----so you know it's good.
Fixed it and for good here.
--
John Lebetski
Woodstock, IL
77 Eleganza II