manual shifter lever always in neutral

[91Shonewbie]

Hi all, sorry I've not been on lately. I've been working a lot and now my 91 sho has dumped on me again this time the shift lever in the car seems to be in neutral even when it's in gear. and I only have first and second no matter what gear it's suppose to be in. I'm thinking the ball assembly under the boot is bad. Any ideas. I think I'm going to have to replace the shifter and I belive I'll go with the Short throw. looking forward to you all feed back thank you.

 

[Irish Pride]

Is your car a cable shifter or rod shifter? If it's the cable shifter, SHOsource makes a repair kit for it. If it's the rod shifter they offers a repair kit for that too. You really won't know what the problem is until you get under the car and look at it though.

In my opinion, if you have the cable shifter then just upgrade to a good rod shifter.

 

[rubydist]

if cable shifter, the cable that rotates the shift shaft in the trans has broken or come disconnected, or the trans has an internal problem.

if rod shifter, either the rod quit rotating when you move the shifter laterally, or the trans has an internal problem.

 

[91Shonewbie]

I am not sure that an internal problem would make the shifter ex: in second gear side to side. you know it feels like the shifter is sliding into the grove for that gear well that feeling isn't there the H pattern is gone in the shifter on the interior of the car. I don't know.

 

[91Shonewbie]

it is a cable the cable on the interior is good not so sure on the trans.

 

[91Shonewbie]

I'd imagine if it was broke at the trans I wouldn't have any gear but I've got 1st and 2nd nothing else.

 

[SHO Continental]

There are two cables, one controls forward-rear movement, the other controls left-right movement. It looks like the left-right cable broke. Pull up the console covering and look at the cables at the front of the shifter handle, if they are intact then jack the car up and look at the other end of the cables at the trans. One end will have a broken connection.

 

[DJSHO91]

I had a similar problem and it ended up being a broken shift rod! Had to get the rod welded and repaired.

 

[rubydist]

I am not sure that an internal problem would make the shifter ex: in second gear side to side. you know it feels like the shifter is sliding into the grove for that gear well that feeling isn't there the H pattern is gone in the shifter on the interior of the car. I don't know.

While I agree that a broken cable or disconnected cable end is more likely, there is the possibility that an internal part is broken or loose. Rotation of the shift shaft on the trans moves the internal shaft to select which shift fork is moved with the front/rear motion of the shifter. It is possible that is not happening internal to the trans.

As stated above, you need to get under the trans and look to see if the shift shaft is being rotated when the shifter is moved side to side. If not, you have a shifter cable issue. If that shaft is rotating, then it is internal.

 

[sperold]

If it is a cable shifter, fix or replace the bad cable. My best shifting manual transmission car is the one with the cable shifter, but in all fairness, it has new cables.
Cables are available on this site in the parts for sale section.

 

[91Shonewbie]

Ok I didn't Realize I could Be the other cable with the white clip on the side not the cable connected Directly To the shift Lever

 

[91Shonewbie]

Thank you All For your Response and knowledge