can't shift to first or second

[sillyme]

I have a front wheel drive plymouth laser with a 2.0 turbo. I can't shift to first or second. when i pound the shifter to the left i might could get it in first. now i can't even do that. i played with the adjustment next to the shifter (added a extension) and could get it in first and second but not reverse. I can't figure this out. I bought the car like this, so i haven't even had the chance to enjoy it. any help is appreciated. thanks

 

[blcknspo0ln]

1st and 2nd can spell a myriad of problems. Can you go into reverse?

Also, check your underhood adjustments. The two cables run from the firewall to the top of the tranny. If your lower rad hose is in the way (or something else) it can prevent you from shifting into certain gears.

 

[sillyme]

i can go into reverse with no problems. i checked if anything is in the way and dont' see any problems. could it be the shifter cable?

 

[TearsForTalon]

HAd that problem with my old turbo awd 92 laser. My problem was the synchros. Hopefully its nothing too serious.

 

[sillyme]

hmm, didn't think of that one. is there anyone that is in seattle that could help me with this. i hate not being able to shift to first

 

[surgeon_general]

Try to play with the shifter adjustment some more to save it. Adjust it so you can go into reverse but if you go a little more you wont be able to. Try tit then. Alot of time I will push the clutch in and go into second then into first to help line everything up.
My daily driver had this problem second works fine now. First only works when Im completely or just about to completely stop.

Do some fancy double clutching and see if you can get some more miles out of it before you rip it apart for syncros.

 

[92awddsm]

It sounds as if you have some mismatched parts. If it has a 90 tranny, you also need the 90 shifter, cables, and cable bracket bolted to the tranny. If it is a 91 or newer tranny, you need the 91-94 parts. If you start mismatching 90 and 91^ parts, you can and will run into the problems you are experiencing.

If an adjustment will help in go into 1-2 but no longer reverse, it has nothing to do with syncros. Please keep the misinformation to yourself. Comments like that could make someone pull their transmission apart to find nothing wrong and still be left with the same problem.

 

[surgeon_general]

Im hoping I did not explain myself the right way. I meant for him to adjust the one cable so that he can still go into reverse, but if he adjusted it further it would not be able to. That way it gives him the most movement towards the 1/2 side and still have reverse functioning.
Also, I advised to keep playing with it before he did anything drastic.
If it came across wrong, I do apologize.

People told me my lasers tranny was shot and after I adjusted the cables its been over a year of daily driving fine.

 

[sillyme]

i tried playing with it. can't get my 1st and 2nd to function with reverse. did this for hours. I thought about the mismatch parts but how do i tell what year my tranny is? i bought the car this way. i was thinking about buying new shifter cable for the tranny but it's a little pricey at 170. should i just buy it and try?

 

[92awddsm]

Can you post a pic of the shifter linkage on the tranny? I can determine if it is a 90 or not that way.

 

[sillyme]

here are a couple of pics. how can you tell? just want to know for future reference. thanks

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[92awddsm]

The tranny you took a pic of is a 90 model. You can tell by the length of the actual shifter arm on the tranny. 91^ has a stamped steel, short arm and 90 had a longer arm, most I have seen are cast. You never said what year the car is but I am going to guess it is a 91-94. If so, the can get by with just replacing the cable bracket on the tranny and make it shift. You do take a chance is breaking a shift fork this way unless you modify the shift arm by drilling a hole closer to the pivot and using a bolt to hook the cable to the arm. I dont have the exact distance from the pivot the hole needs to be drilled but I can check for you later. If you cant locate a 91 cable mounting bracket, pm me and I can probably help you out.

 

[sillyme]

the car is a 1990 laser. sorry if i didn't state that earlier. there was a shorter mounting on the shifter arm but i grinded it off and used the farther mounting point. do i need to get new brackets still? cable?

 

[92awddsm]

Is there any way you can take a pic of the shifter and cables with the console removed? I couldnt imagine a 91^ shifter or cables in a 90 car with a 90 tranny but it is possible.

 

[sillyme]

hope these pics are good enough.

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[illegal99si]

possible shift fork is broken