Shifter very sloppy in gear

[CanMan]

After extended use in 5th gear yesterday, about an hour and a half, the shifter became very sloppy in gear after stoping then moving again. This was not a problem before the long drive, and occured after stopping. No downshifting was involved during the stop either.

It does have some sort of short throw shifter, not sure on the brand either.

I pulled the console and checked it out. Bushings look and feel good, bolts are tight, and nothing appears broke. Bushings on the cables at the trans look decent, one has a small crack in the rubber.

Its hard to get into 1st, hard to even find 2nd and doesn't go in all the way without some good force. 3rd, 4th, 5th and reverse are fine, but are also very sloppy in gear(like its in neutral).

Any tips on where to look would be appreciated.

 

[okm12346]

I never liked the aftermarket short shifters. I always cut the stock shifter and rewelded it. It hasn't let me down yet

Remove the cables from the shifter and see if there's play. The aftermarket shifters, and especially the ebay ones, start having alot of play after some time. If it checks out then another reason for loose shifter in gear are the 36mm bolts that hold the gears. These are accessible from the rear cover of the trans ( you dont have remove the trans)

Time to get some solid bushings for the cables and the symborski shifter base bushing kit.

 

[95weclipse]

I bet the bolts that hold the cables to the trans are loose and not allowing it to go in and out of gear easily.

 

[rlacasse1]

I bet the bolts that hold the cables to the trans are loose and not allowing it to go in and out of gear easily.

That's what I was about to suggest. I would check out the cable brackets on the transmission.

 

[Tyeler18]

When you're in gear and you press the gas, does the shifter move a decent amount?

I also agree that it could be either the bolts holding the bracket or the 36mm bolts in the tranny case (see vfaq for how to fix). Another thing though are motor mounts. If they are bad the motor/trans will sag causing poor shifting and in extreme cases it will actually kill the clutch from seperation (ask me how I know).

 

[CanMan]

Ill have to get more in depth tomorrow and check further. Shifter came with the car when I bought it. Its been fine for the last 2 months.

After some more driving this evening, it goes into gear fine(except 1st and 2nd), but the handle almost returns into the neutral position. Almost like the spring isn't holding it in place.

 

[Tyeler18]

It's probably the shifter brackets then or another thing I've noticed lately is that the tranny bushings rust themselves to the shifter bracket and don't turn. See if you can pull the bushing off the tranny.

 

[95weclipse]

It might not necessarily be the bolts loose them self's on trans bracket. But the little rubber bushings could be all worn out and moving enough not allowing it to shift because when its loose and the cable doesn't have enough 'throw" to fully put in gear

 

[motozachl]

+1 for the shifter base on the transmission. Also check those bushings at the end of the cables. These can be easily replaced with skateboard wheel bearings

 

[95weclipse]

Speaking of those bushing, those also if are loose enough or have enough play will also do the same thing. The skate board bearings are a pain to get it in .

 

[CanMan]

Removed a few things to get to the sifter cable bracket on the trans. Both bolts were laying on top of the trans, I'm suprised they were still there. Cleaned the treads, put a dab of loctite on each and tightened them back down. Shifter is no longer sloppy, feels better than it did before.

Thanks for all the replys!

 

[rlacasse1]

You better tag someones post, like 95WECLIPEs post, as helpful.

 

[SpawnedX]

He's a newbie, it doesn't do anything if he tags the post as helpful, but if he would tell me what post he found most helpful, I would be happy to give them a bit of a reputation boost.

 

[rlacasse1]

My guess is it was the guy that I said in my previous post. Then mine second.

But the other dude suggested it, and that was his problem. So in my mind, that was pretty effing helpful. Shit, I'll click it.

I just tagged him as helpful.

 

[95weclipse]

Ask me how I found this out?

 

[SpawnedX]

I am going to all but sidestep that and post this instead:

The wise man is the man who learns from experience. The smart man is the man who learns from the wise man's experience.

 

[rlacasse1]

Ask me how I found this out?

Same here.

 

[CanMan]

You better tag someones post, like 95WECLIPEs post, as helpful.

Not sure how to do that, but if someone else could, that'd be great.

I could barely figure out how to make the topic title say Resolved.

 

[95weclipse]

Experience means alot and will teach you more than any thing