Selector Lever Cable Adjustment

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2005 Mercury Montego, 2005 Ford Freestyle, and 2005 Ford Five Hundred. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

All vehicles

With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer to JACKING & LIFTING .
Remove the air cleaner and the outlet pipe. For additional information, refer to INTAKE AIR DISTRIBUTION & FILTERING .

CVT transaxle

Disconnect the shift cable end.

Fig 1: Locating Shift Cable End
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Place the manual control lever in the DRIVE position.

Fig 2: Placing Manual Control Lever In Drive Position
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Place the gear shift lever in the DRIVE position.

Fig 3: Placing Gear Shift Lever In Drive Position
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the release tab toward the back of the cable end to unlock the adjuster.

Fig 4: Unlocking Adjuster
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Pull out on the adjuster locking tab.

Fig 5: Pulling Out On Adjuster Locking Tab
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the cable end either backward or forward to align it with the manual control lever.

Fig 6: Sliding Cable End Either Backward Or Forward To Align It With Manual Control Lever
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
With the adjuster locking tab released connect the shift cable end to the manual lever.

Fig 7: Locating Shift Cable End
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Push the adjuster locking tab in to lock it in place.

Fig 8: Pushing Adjuster Locking Tab In To Lock
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the release tab back to lock the adjuster.

Fig 9: Sliding Release Tab Back To Lock Adjuster
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

6-speed transaxle

Disconnect the shift cable end.

Fig 10: Locating Shift Cable End
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Place the manual lever in the DRIVE position.

Fig 11: Placing Manual Lever In Drive Position
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Place the gearshift lever in the DRIVE position.

Fig 12: Placing Gearshift Lever In Drive Position
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the release tab toward the back of the cable end to unlock the adjuster.

Fig 13: Unlocking Adjuster
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Pull out on the adjuster locking tab.

Fig 14: Pulling Out On Adjuster Locking Tab
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the cable end either backward or forward to align it with the manual control lever.

Fig 15: Aligning Cable End With Manual Control Lever
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
With the adjuster locking tab released, connect the shift cable end to the manual lever.

Fig 16: Locating Shift Cable End
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Push the adjuster locking tab in to lock it in place.

Fig 17: Locking Adjuster Locking Tab
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.
Slide the release tab back to lock the adjuster.

Fig 18: Locking Adjuster
Courtesy of FORD MOTOR CO.

All vehicles

Install the air cleaner and the outlet pipe. For additional information, refer to INTAKE AIR DISTRIBUTION & FILTERING .
Verify that the vehicle starts in PARK and NEUTRAL only and that the reverse lamps illuminate in REVERSE.