Help: squeaky shifter

[Calypso]

I have a 93 MTX. Whenever it is raining or wet out, the sifter squeaks when I accelerate. It doesn't do it so much when I just shift the shifter, but when I accelerate and the engine/tranny torques up. It is definately coming from the sifter are and NOT the tranny (thank God.) I assume there is a seal under the car somwhere that has gone bad that is now letting water into the shifter area. I just wanted to see if anyone here knows how the shifter is put together that can maybe pin-point the problem better than me.

Thanks.

 

[MADDOG11]

On thing you may want to try is filling the box that houses the shifter inself with wheel bearing grease. Keeps out water and does not allow the shifter linkage in the box to rust. There should be a screw in the side of the box you can fill it with grease through.

 

[spazmoid]

Ya i have this same problem. I had read somewhere that the two bolts that come through the mount for the shifter (right next to the black box where the shift lever is connected to) can rub against the exhaust pipe. This was/is happening on mine because when you feel the exhaust where it would hit, its all abrasive and stuff. I even cut the bolts down to the nut (about 1/2 inch) and they still hit. I don't know if this is what is causing it but i hope its not becuase i have no way to fix it, seeing i already cut the bolt down.
This only started happening on mine when i got the mid-pipe changed, so i'm thinking the non-stock pipe is made just a little bit different enough so that the bends in it cause it to be too close to the bolts.
If anyone else has any ideas tell us!! Now there's two of us with this problem. lol

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

On thing you may want to try is filling the box that houses the shifter inself with wheel bearing grease. Keeps out water and does not allow the shifter linkage in the box to rust. There should be a screw in the side of the box you can fill it with grease through.

please tell me you did not fill the ENTIRE box with grease....

Just a bit of heavy wheel bearing grease in the ball and socket joint of the shifter is plenty.

 

[MADDOG11]

please tell me you did not fill the ENTIRE box with grease....

Just a bit of heavy wheel bearing grease in the ball and socket joint of the shifter is plenty.

Well, after working as a service advisor for a Ford dealer (never again, BS CSI) for 3 years, I spoke with one of the HD techs about my shifter breaking for the second time where it attaches to the linkage. He replied that there was a service bullitin that stated to fill the shifter box to the top w/HD wheel bearing grease. I rewelded the shifter and filled it with grease as he instructed me to. No problems since (almost 3 years). Shifter has a much more positive feel as well and no adverse effects.

 

[spazmoid]

So how do you get the black box off? or do you have to? I found the little hole that you can fill the box up with, it was holding some insulation. Is this the hole? and has anyone else actually tried this?

 

[NotSoSlowSHO]

He replied that there was a service bullitin that stated to fill the shifter box to the top w/HD wheel bearing grease.

Got a link?

Ive never heard of such a TSB.

 

[MADDOG11]

So how do you get the black box off? or do you have to? I found the little hole that you can fill the box up with, it was holding some insulation. Is this the hole? and has anyone else actually tried this?

You are correct sir! That is the hole you fill it from. Or you can disconnect the entire shifter assem, take it appart for inspection/clean up and refill it while you have it apart. As I stated I did this to my own 3 years ago along with almost every MTX that came into the dealership and have never had any problems. The hole was actually put there for that very reason! Anyway, later Kevin.

 

[MADDOG11]

Got a link?

Ive never heard of such a TSB.

Unfortunatly my OASIS log-in is no longer valid. Besides it was probably one of the tsb's that was never put on paper. That's right, "not put on paper". I've heard different opinions from tech's to service managers as to what this not on paper stuff is and I think it's because the manufacturers doesn't want every crybaby :cry: to try and get a buy back for every squeak, rattle etc! Most of the people who buy NEW cars like a SHO, Impala SS, Corvette etc think, since they spent decent amount of money the car should be perfect and if it's not they should get their money back !!! But that's just my opinion.