Service Slants

Motor,  Apr 2006  by Rosario, Tom

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Nissan

Shifter difficulties. Owners of 1999 Altima models built before VIN 1N4DL01DXXC118159 may complain that the shifter assembly sticks or refuses to come out of Park when the brake pedal is depressed. According to Nissan, weakness in the torsion (return) spring on the shift mechanism is most likely responsible for the shift interlock difficulties. Installing a new stiffer, longer torsion spring (Part No. 34922-9E120) should fix the problem permanently.

To perform the parts swap, start by removing the cluster lid from the rear of the center console, followed by the console itself. Next, pull up on the shift indicator plate until it releases at the plastic hooks and remove the plate. Using the illustration at right as a guide, force the upper arm on the shifter to the right until it's positioned directly over the lower arm. This will expose the torsion spring and give you working room. Using needle-nose pliers, disengage both spring ears from the black & white retaining posts on the shifter. Now pull the torsion spring away from the main support peg, unwind the coils and remove the spring from the shifter assembly.

To install the beefier torsion spring, start by hooking the right ear to the black retaining post. Using the needlenose pliers, carefully wind and push each coil around the support peg, starting with the lower-most coil. Next, hook the left ear of the spring to the white retaining post and reposition the upper and lower shifter arms to their natural position. Now test the shifter assembly with the ignition key off and on. The shifter should stay locked in Park with the key on or off, then release when the key is on and the brake pedal is depressed. If everything works as designed, reinstall the center console followed by the cluster lid and the job is complete.

Ford/Ford Truck

MIL and ETC lights on, DTCs stored. Some 2003-05 Ford cars and light trucks built on or before 11/29/04 may illuminate their MIL and ETC lights simultaneously, while storing DTCs P2106 and P2135 in computer memory.

Ford doesn't get very specific as to a cause, but apparently it has something to do with glitches in the TPS signal, because the carmaker wants you to replace the sensor with an updated part from a kit (Part No. 3L5Z-9B989-AA). After the new sensor is installed, you'll have to reprogram the PCM using WDS release B36.ll and higher or B37.2 and higher. If you have a subscription, you can also download the new software calibrations via the Internet at www.motorcraft.com.

Vehicles that are susceptible to the problem and can benefit from Ford's two-step fix are 2003-05 Ford Thunderbirds & Lincoln LSs; 2004-05 Ford Explorers, F-150s & Mercury Mountaineers; and 2005 Lincoln Navigators & Town Cars, Ford E-Series vans, Expeditions & F-Super Duty Pickups, plus Mercury Grand Marquis.

GM

Starting problems, various electrical gremlins. Drivers of some 200006 GM minivans (full list below) may come into your shop complaining of some really strange symptoms. Among the comments you might get is that the engine won't start, starts with difficulty or stalls. The starting troubles may be accompanied by an inoperative or out-of-whack fuel gauge. In addition, the MIL and the ABS and/or TCS warning lights may be illuminated. The TCS system may have a mind of its own, activating in dry conditions. Finally, Service Traction System and/or All-Wheel Drive Disable messages may be displayed on the dash. To put the icing on the cake, all these symptoms can come and go, leaving behind multiple DTCs in the process.

Veteran techs know that unrelated electrical gremlins like these usually have their origin in either one of two maladies: a bad ground or an intermittent connector. In this case, it's the latter-more specifically, connector C305. You can find this connector on the floor, just to the rear of the driver's seat. And what you'll probably see is that it's either corroded or has spread female terminals.

How you approach the repair depends on what you find. If the connector is corroded, water is getting into the vehicle from somewhere. Find and fix the leak first, then replace the connector. If there's no evidence of corrosion, GM warns not to try to repair the spread female terminals. Instead, replace them with parts from a terminal repair kit.

The following vehicles are susceptible to the starting and electrical problems described:

2000-04 Olds Silhouettes

2000-05 Chevy Ventures and Pontiac Montanas

2001-05 Pontiac Azteks

2002-06 Buick Rendezvous

2005-06 Buick Terrazas, Chevy Uplanders and Pontlac Montana SV6s

Jeep

Snapping noise from engine. Some 2002-04 Libertys and 2003-04 Wranglers (all with the 2.4L Four) may produce an irregularly occurring snapping sound from the engine compartment. Jeep says the noise is most noticeable with the engine at normal operating temperature, the transmission in Park and the engine between idle and 1400 rpm. On opening the hood you'll probably hear the racket coming from the upper front portion of the engine. Improperly machined cam bearing caps is the most likely cause of the noise. Chamfering the two bore radius edges of each bearing cap with a file should help quiet things down. Here's how to go about performing the fix: