gear shift sticking

[ayme]

I've got an 07 AWD Edge. The gear shift has been sticking a little for a couple months, and lately has gotten tough to move from park to reverse, and is accompanied by an awful creaking sound. While I still had warranty I took it into Ford and they said the cause was something like coffee spilled and gummed everything up so they wouldn't do the repairs under warranty and want to charge me almost $600 to replace. Any suggestions on being able to easily clean/repair this problem myself?

 

Thanks!

[igcitng]

I've got an 07 AWD Edge. The gear shift has been sticking a little for a couple months, and lately has gotten tough to move from park to reverse, and is accompanied by an awful creaking sound. While I still had warranty I took it into Ford and they said the cause was something like coffee spilled and gummed everything up so they wouldn't do the repairs under warranty and want to charge me almost $600 to replace. Any suggestions on being able to easily clean/repair this problem myself?

 

Thanks!

 

 

I am surprised no one has responded to your post. The question would be whether or not you know that it is something spilled in there, or are we to assume it is something that was spilled before you bought it? There is a thread on here on how to remove the plate around the gear shift to see down there. Maybe a little WD40 would loosen it up?

[ayme]

I've had coffee spill over (due to the fantastic design of having cupholders directly next to the gear shift), but I'm not talking about entire cups..oh, and I bought the car new so that dissolves the theory of a previous owner doing the damage.

 

I do have an updated since posting my problem. What has happened is the red gear indicator broke off from the shift handle, so it appears that my car is permanently in park, but the shifter moves perfectly between all gears. I'm thinking that is what was sticking and maybe problem solved?? I haven't had a chance to take apart the console and take a look inside, but plan on doing it this weekend.

 

Thanks for the reply...i appreciate it.

[igcitng]

I've had coffee spill over (due to the fantastic design of having cupholders directly next to the gear shift), but I'm not talking about entire cups..oh, and I bought the car new so that dissolves the theory of a previous owner doing the damage.

 

I do have an updated since posting my problem. What has happened is the red gear indicator broke off from the shift handle, so it appears that my car is permanently in park, but the shifter moves perfectly between all gears. I'm thinking that is what was sticking and maybe problem solved?? I haven't had a chance to take apart the console and take a look inside, but plan on doing it this weekend.

 

Thanks for the reply...i appreciate it.

 

 

I never considered that issue. My old vehicle had the shifter on the tree. I do not carry drinks very often but I will definitely be careful when I do. That little indicator really held on for awhile! Your theory makes a lot of sense.

[FrozenEdgeMN]

I am surprised no one has responded to your post. The question would be whether or not you know that it is something spilled in there, or are we to assume it is something that was spilled before you bought it? There is a thread on here on how to remove the plate around the gear shift to see down there. Maybe a little WD40 would loosen it up?

 

 

where is that thread on how to remove the plate...i can't seem to find it anywhere and spilled some coffee myself...starting to hear that creaking noise in the shifter...like plastic rubbing on plastic with sticky stuff in between.