Breaking Shift Cables

[mindset]

Hello. Recently my shift cables just broke. By the tranny, the cables kinked up, so eventually they became worn and broke even more. I had another member on here send me free shift cables (thanks!) but installed them and when I started to drive around the bushing broke again! Now the cable is exposed and begining to kink and will eventually break if I keep driving it. I was wondering if this is something to do with my transmission? I adjusted the new cables properly too.

 

[DSM4me44]

Hopefully you weren't out fixing cables during that snow we just had....

I have someone shift while you look under the hood. Does it feel weird to shift or is it difficult in anyway? I am wondering the bracket is lose causeing damage to your cables.

Do you have anything installed such as a short shifter or aftermarket bushings? Anything near you shift weight, like intercooler piping or coolant hose (usually interference if you have 6 bolt swap).

 

[mindset]

Hopefully you weren't out fixing cables during that snow we just had....

I have someone shift while you look under the hood. Does it feel weird to shift or is it difficult in anyway? I am wondering the bracket is lose causeing damage to your cables.

Do you have anything installed such as a short shifter or aftermarket bushings? Anything near you shift weight, like intercooler piping or coolant hose (usually interference if you have 6 bolt swap).

Thanks for the reply, I've been going psycho over my tranny today!

Anyway, isn't it weird how it all melted today?!?

That's a good idea. Although I'm positive I installed the new cables correctly. I did take off the bracket temporarily but I tightened it back down in position. That little bracket that holds the cables doesn't need to be adjusted, or does it? I just bolted it back on.

It feels fine shifting. It's just that if I put it in reverse, sometimes the cables will kink up by where the cables connect to the transmission. It broke off in the same place (where the rubber flex hose stuff attaches to the black part of the cable) and that ticked me off... had a nice member on here send me free ones and now my tranny just ruined them.

2nd Gear is just straight up grinding. Even if I try and slam it into gear.

I have no aftermarket parts. Except a fuel pump. I also have NO CLUE if my tranny is the actual 1991 Tranny that came with my car or not, what other years could bolt up to it?. The guy before me CLAIMED he had to reassemble the motor and he painted the tranny black. I have vin/serial numbers if you want them.

Thanks.

 

[DSM4me44]

Thanks for the reply, I've been going psycho over my tranny today!

Anyway, isn't it weird how it all melted today?!?

Yesterday at 7:55am I heard a salt trunk and that just about ruined my day. Today im out washing the salt of my beater car, go figure.

That's a good idea. Although I'm positive I installed the new cables correctly. I did take off the bracket temporarily but I tightened it back down in position. That little bracket that holds the cables doesn't need to be adjusted, or does it? I just bolted it back on.

I didn't do any adjustments when I installed mine. Does it seem like you are running out of cable when you shift or is it the opposite? Like....when you shift you have to much cable and it doesn't retract right?

It feels fine shifting. It's just that if I put it in reverse, sometimes the cables will kink up by where the cables connect to the transmission. It broke off in the same place (where the rubber flex hose stuff attaches to the black part of the cable) and that ticked me off... had a nice member on here send me free ones and now my tranny just ruined them.

Do they actually break apart, as in the wire, or is it the outter coating that is breaking? It seems like it is stretching to far if the black flex part is detaching itself.

2nd Gear is just straight up grinding. Even if I try and slam it into gear.

When did this start, before or during when you were having cable issues?

I have no aftermarket parts. Except a fuel pump. I also have NO CLUE if my tranny is the actual 1991 Tranny that came with my car or not, what other years could bolt up to it?. The guy before me CLAIMED he had to reassemble the motor and he painted the tranny black. I have vin/serial numbers if you want them.

I don't need the vin or serial. I am not sure how it works completely with 1gs, but 2gs have 2 groups of set ups, 95-96 and 97-99. The stuff bolts up the same thou. I would assume depending on what the set ups are for 1gs, you could have a tranny from a 90-94.

What was done to the car(if anything) within several months of the first set of cables breaking?

 

[mindset]

Yesterday at 7:55am I heard a salt trunk and that just about ruined my day. Today im out washing the salt of my beater car, go figure.

Haha, damn salt trucks. I'll be buying another beater myself here in a little bit. Isn't it funny were both up at 2am.


I didn't do any adjustments when I installed mine. Does it seem like you are running out of cable when you shift or is it the opposite? Like....when you shift you have to much cable and it doesn't retract right?

Its too hard to say. I'm not running out of cable, but maybe it is my adjustment. I mean I never thought of it that way either. When the trannys in neutral, the cables look like they should be where they're supposed to be at a nice length. I never tried putting it in 4th. I mean if it doesn't go in 4th, then it has to be my cables. My car will go into 2nd gear tho at a complete stop. Reverse gear, again, is that whole kinking crap with the cables.


Do they actually break apart, as in the wire, or is it the outter coating that is breaking? It seems like it is stretching to far if the black flex part is detaching itself.

You know how there is a rubber piece on the cable that scrunches itself back and forth? That part. It broke away from the bushing by where the cables attach to that bracket. Maybe it is detaching itself I'll definitely be triple checking the shifter cable adj tomorrow.

When did this start, before or during when you were having cable issues?

I guess it has always done it since I've owned the car (2months). The guy had to reassemble the motor himself so he could've forgotten to readjust them. Causing bad shifting and reverse gear being a PITA.
It's also weird that after I installed the cables it completely grinds for 2nd gear. It used to just "grind into" the gear and it would be fine. Now it refuses to go into gear, just grinding.

I don't need the vin or serial. I am not sure how it works completely with 1gs, but 2gs have 2 groups of set ups, 95-96 and 97-99. The stuff bolts up the same thou. I would assume depending on what the set ups are for 1gs, you could have a tranny from a 90-94.

Ok, cool. I'm hoping my cables are just the problem

What was done to the car(if anything) within several months of the first set of cables breaking?
No mods done to my car except some maintenence. Turbo Coolant Return Line, Plugs/Wires, Air Filter, Oil/Filter Change and I just recently went through some idle problems which I just solved yesterday.

Bold Answers.

 

[DSM4me44]

It may need adjusted then. Try going into 4th gear. That would explain that you are having issues with your one cable, especially since it does it in 2nd and reverse. I bet it probably kinks when you hit 1st and 3rd.

So could it be having to much "cable" or slack when you shift into 1,3,5 and you are running out of cable when shifting into 2,4,R?

 

[mindset]

It may need adjusted then. Try going into 4th gear. That would explain that you are having issues with your one cable, especially since it does it in 2nd and reverse. I bet it probably kinks when you hit 1st and 3rd.

So could it be having to much "cable" or slack when you shift into 1,3,5 and you are running out of cable when shifting into 2,4,R?

About the reverse kinking. It kinks because it seems like it takes a little more force to get it into gear, so instead of the cables "pushing" it into gear, it will bend its self, causing the kink. Put the amount of force to put it into 2nd or 4th is not as much.

That is a possibility. I'll let you know tomorrow.
Thanks for your help DSM4me44