Shifter Cable/Bracket Problem? Or Something Else?

[deejay21]

97 GST Spyder with a newer full swap tranny that is almost 3 years old with a total of less than 1000 miles on it.

Also has:
Symborski Shift Kit
B&M Short Throw Shifter
Mach 5 Shifter Cable Stiffener Bushings

The car has started to pop out of 1st gear intermittently and sometimes grinds when trying to put it into gear. I had it towed back to the tranny shop (still under warranty) and the tech said that they opened the tranny & everything looks great still. He states that he was able to unhook the cables & drive the car in 1st without it popping out of gear.

He was telling me that he thinks it is the shifter cable - is there a way to test a cable to see if it is broken (even slightly)? I'm just trying to not replace something needlessly. What are the comparable model shift cables that I can get used to work on this besides 2g DSM's?

Also, I took off the cables on the tranny side and it seems like there is a bit of play for the shifter bracket, specifically the one that goes front-to-back. The arm that inserts into the little plastic block seems slightly loose and there is about 2mm of side to side play for that arm. Is this more probably what may be causing this or just normal sort of behavior?

Or, is there something else that may be causing this? It's only 1st gear that does it and all other gears shift smoothly with no grinding. Any suggestions of things to test would be greatly appreciated!

 

[deejay21]

Update: I have tried to tighten the nut on the shift bracket arm, but to no avail. I also tried adding a washer, and thought that the bracket washers might need compression but it doesn't seem to help. I'm worried about tightening the nut too much and breaking off the bolt. Does anyone have any other suggestions other than new shifter cables?

 

[zanderson]

I was told that you adjust the cable so that they easily slip on the shifter while holding it in the neural position. I need to replace my cables. I figured out that it was the cables when I started having problems with the shifter seizing up on me. Noticed one of them was fraied.

 

[deejay21]

Update: I replaced the shifter cables, and it's still popping out of first. I am going to put the car into first tonight manually and drive it around to see if that changes anything. Any other suggestions?

 

[92AWDHX40]

Popping out of gear sounds like a transmission issue, 1000 miles mine did that lots of miles but synchros were bad.

 

[deejay21]

Update:

Put the car into first and disconnected the cables - the car drove completely fine. Absolutely no popping out of first on multiple stops & starts around the neighborhood. So that's good at least

I then reconnected the shifter cables - car still pops out of first. As with most DSM's there is a lot of play in the shifter. I replaced the B&M short shifter with a stock one, and still thus far it is still popping out. I'm guessing it HAS to be something in the shifter itself, right? Any further thoughts or suggestions would be most excellent. Thanks!

 

[deejay21]

Anyone?

 

[deejay21]

Ok - thus far I've replaced the entire shifter assembly, including actual shifter, and that seems to help out a lot. It still pops out of first every once in a while, but it is much less than before. Does anyone know if there is a bushing that goes on the black rubber bushing shifter cable between it and the actual shifter?

 

[deejay21]

Does anyone know what the name of the bracket/arm mechanism is for the fwd transmission (which connects the tranny to the shifter cables)? Also, would something like that be considered part of a warranty coverage if the tranny was covered by a warranty?

 

[Tyeler18]

Have you properly adjusted the new cables? They need to be adjusted to your specific car when you put them in. Does your shifter sit in the middle of the boot when it's in neutral or is it pointed slightly in any direction?

 

[my dreamt dsm]

Are you talking about that black thingy that goes into the tranny?

 

[deejay21]

Are you talking about that black thingy that goes into the tranny?

No - I was talking about the arm mechanism that connects the shifter cables in the engine bay to the transmission

Have you properly adjusted the new cables? They need to be adjusted to your specific car when you put them in. Does your shifter sit in the middle of the boot when it's in neutral or is it pointed slightly in any direction?

I thought on 2g DSM's you don't adjust the shifter cables - am I incorrect? Also, the shifter sits dead center in the boot (as in pushing it straight forward puts it into 3rd).

Popping out of gear sounds like a transmission issue, 1000 miles mine did that lots of miles but synchros were bad.

If it were syncros, how would I be able to tell? I've had it at the shop and they say it looks good inside it. The main thing is that once the car is in first, it will stay in it no problem, but getting it into first and it not popping out is more difficult.

 

[92AWDHX40]

Mines popped out of gear, synchros were gone, have shop tear it down and inspect, no other way to other than to dig into it.

 

[RedTurboEclipse]

sorry to bring this up but did you find your problem..

why do people keep saying its his syncros, the dood just confirmed he manually put it in first with no popping?!?

pnuemo did a quick rebuild on my trans. he is the record holder of the 14b in the world so he knows whatsup. however it still pops out of 1st. if i hold it in place it wont, but if i just leave it it will sometimes pop out.

i have yet to test it myself if i manually put it in first, i will soon and if it doesnt pop, then we have the same situation..