bureau13

I drove the car out to dinner last night, on the way there everything was fine (save the wobbly inner tie rod, to which I've surrendered and will have a pro take it). I valet parked it (big mistake I guess?) but when the guy brought it back he was having trouble with the shifter. That is an understatement...it's stuck in first. Clutch works so you can come to a stop and not kill the engine, but the shifter just moves sloppily up and down in the first degree plane, can't move it left-right at all, and it really does nothing moving it in that first gear plane. I drove it home in first, which was fun. In a remarkable coincidence, the entire climate control has died...button doesn't turn AC on and off, fan **** doesn't turn the fan on, etc. WTF did this valet do?! Lol first things first though...any ideas what I should look at wrt to the shifter/transmission? It's always felt a little loose but has never given me any real problems. I guess I could have it towed to the shop that is doing the suspension, but it's 40 minutes away. Definitely not driving there in first though

I've been on quite a run...daughter's car's alternator and my daily driver truck's water pump both died the day before yesterday...then this. I have one more car and I'm terrified to drive it for fear of what will break in that one...

bureau13

I jacked the rear of the car up and took a look at the linkage while my sun moved the gear lever back and forth in that first gear plane. It all seems connected...I could feel through the boot where it enters the transmission case, that would move...slightly...with the rod itself. However it's not moving very far,and you can move the gear lever throughout it's range of travel, from touching the rear-most edge of the console, up to the front. So it feels to me like something disconnected in the vicinity of the shifter, rather than something binding or broken in the transmission itself. That being said, it's not obvious to me from looking at the lever mechanism. I can post a video of me moving the shifter lever if that's helpful.

AirtekHVAC

bureau13

So the rear coupling SEEMS intact, as much as I can tell feeling through the boot as the shifter is moved back and forth. Just looking at diagrams of the mechanism, I'm wondering about that front ball cup. If that popped off while the car was in first gear, it seems like this might be the result?

Not sure how that took out my AC...

Petza914

Man, that stinks. I never, ever, give any of my cars to a valet, not even my 17 year old pickup. I'd rather park in a garage 3 blocks away and walk back to the place.

bureau13

Honestly, I doubt this guy did anything, but it does make you wonder...

placer

The valet definitely broke it. Sorry to hear it.

soontobered84

Symptoms sound like the front ball cup to me.

If the front ball cup is not secured by a tie wrap or a long hose clamp, it will pop off the front ball. Especially at the worst possible time, like when you are letting a potential buyer driver the car for the first time. Don't ask me how I know that. Slapping the car into gear seems to initiate this response from the car.

Pretty easy fix. Remove the middle part of the exhaust. Then remove the small odd shaped heat shield at the front right of the transmission. Remove the 8mm bolts that hold the center heat shield on and slide that heat shield to the left side of the car. You can then reach up on the top of the transmission and find the front shifter lever that holds the ball cup. If it's loose, pull it gently to the side so that you can see it to make sure that the plastic cup inside is not missing or damaged. If it is, replace the plastic cup. If it is not damaged or missing, fit it back in place on top of the cup and use a small ratchet strap to pull it onto the ball. This next step is very important: Secure the ball cup to the ball with a large tie wrap or long hose clamp to prevent it popping off again!!

Reinstall the heat shields and the the exhaust and you should be good to go.

bureau13

Thanks... I'm pretty sure you're right. Looking not closely at shift lever movement, the front room is now moving, not the one going back to the actual transmission.

Considering now if I should go with Hans' shifter. The whole thing is delaying my trip to get my front suspension done, unfortunately.

soontobered84

Jeff, In reality, it's about a 1-1 1/2 hour fix depending on what kind of trouble you have getting the ball cup back on the ball. It's really not that bad.

bureau13

Just to tie this one up, since I had the car at the mechanic for my suspension and tie rods anyway, I let him do this as well. It was indeed the ball cup, which he replaced, and he also replaced the rear coupler bushings. It now shifts like a new car.

soontobered84

Nice!!

JBGold07

I've just realised my front ball cup is on the cusp of failing and im looking to replace it. I'd just like some insight on a detail.

When replacing the cup, do you put it on the ball first, then draw the shaft onto the new cup and ball ( I believe I did it this way for the clutch release arm cup)

Or

Place the cup in the socket of the shaft, then draw the above onto the ball?

Really appreciate any advise here, many thanks

soontobered84

^^^^^^ I don't know if there is a right way or a wrong way, but this is the method I use. I also use a small ratchet strap to lock it all the way down onto the ball.
Then I put the large tie wrap on it to keep the ball from jumping out of the cup down the road.

Good Luck

rjtw

Mark the location of the socket assembly on the threaded rod, unthread the socket assembly, stick in the new plastic insert on the bench, then thread back on and finally pop in place.