I have a 4 speed MTX now

[Gez89SHO]

Well, I let someone borrow the car and this happens. I can't get into 5th or reverse now. It goes into 1,2 okay but then once its in gear I can still move the shifter sideways. If I put it into 3,4 it will still move sideways, but only to the right side- won't go into the 1,2, side. Trying to put it in reverse or 5th will give you 4 and 3rd gear. You can even move the shifter sideways while moving, it doesn't do anything. It doesn't feel gritty either, like it's catching something.
I looked in the console and the cables move fine. I didn't have a chance yet to check underneath.
What does this sound like to you guys? Is it the cable?

 

[luigisho]

It doesn't sound like no cable to me. It sounds like a malfunctioning friend. Get underneath and see if the cables kinked and if it will shift through all the gears at the tranny. You might get lucky but I suspect it may cost some $$. Good luck.

 

[Darkside]

Sounds like something is wrong with the crossover cable. That should be the one on the right side.

 

[munkee]

Bummer. I guess I'm not the only one with an expensive friend. I just hope yours is less expensive than mine was!

 

[luigisho]

That's the thing with these cars. We tell our friends how great they are and when they get a chance to run it they beat the crap out of it. I could never understand why Ford put such a great engine surrounded by weak stock parts.

 

[Sho-N-Go]

you need a cable for the shifter the one with the ball end. I just bought a 90 with that exact problem for 500.00 all better now though.

 

[Gez89SHO]

I had a chance to check it last night. Here's what was wrong: The ball end didn't slip off, the outer part of the cable had slipped out of the retainer at the trans quadrant. That way, I couldn't force the cable in the reverse gate. Not sure how it wiggled out of there.
To fix it, all I had to do is loosen the ****** that holds the cable on the quadrant, put the cable back in place, and tighten everything up. A nice simple fix Just have to adjust my shifting now, the reverse/5th isn't as far right as it was.