MTX infinite neutral

[Dougies for 89MTX]

Hello everyone, I posted a few weeks ago about fixing my acceleration issue on my 89. My drive to college went great(minus my exhaust drone) and I’ve been dailying it. Today I decided to give my girlfriend manual driving lessons. She simply started it from a stop a few times but otherwise just crawled around a pond @ ~10mph in 1st gear for about 10 minutes. When we went to leave I started driving again and it immediately started acting up. The shifter is rod controlled which if I am not mistaken, is an aftermarket mod and it has needed some tlc since I bought it. Where the shifter wouldn’t stay attached to the linkages. But that’s not the issue I was having. When I would attempt to put it into gear it would feel like it clunks into gear except it could easily be moved side to side as if it is in neutral. When neutral normally would be the shifter “sometimes” won’t move side to side. It also doesn’t feel like the shifter is engaging side to side, as in side to side motions aren’t doing anything. It’s very tricky to shift into any gear besides 3rd and 4th. I’m wondering if it’s a linkage issue or what?

 

[luigisho]

probably. You need to check it or have it looked at. The rod shifter can get loose at the boss where it attaches to the trans case and sometimes can get cracked or broken there. That is where i would start and then move inward. Maybe the shifter has an issue at the top where the stick is moving. I never had an issue with these but I never did a cable shifter to rod swap. If the shifter looks ok then move inward to the clutch. Maybe the strap broke or something. It's hard to tell over interwebs

 

[Irish Pride]

I would also check the clevis joint at the trans. The clevis joint is the section of the shifter at the trans that swivels and allows the movement to engage different gears. There is a rubber bushing that gets worn and allows excessive movement. SHOSource sells a repair kit if that's what it is.

-Chad

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

Ok I will get in there today and give updates in about 4 hours!

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

I was unable to locate anything you guys suggested that I inspect bedides a single cable leading to the Transmission which has an orange arrow pointing towards it. Can you all help direct me with help from the pictures?

 

[Airborne]

You have the cable shifter, not rod. I can't tell from the pictures what is disconnected. If you cant see under inspection, ask a freind to work the shifter while you watch for what is disconnected. SHO Source sells repair parts. The first 5 pictures are of the clutch cable.

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

You have the cable shifter, not rod. I can't tell from the pictures what is disconnected. If you cant see under inspection, ask a freind to work the shifter while you watch for what is disconnected. SHO Source sells repair parts. The first 5 pictures are of the clutch cable.

Aaaaah my mistake. So the rod linkages are not referring to the pistons in the actual shifter column. That’s partially a relief, since from I could tell rod swaps are in repairable due to discontinuation. I will get out there at today and have someone shake the shifter and inspect.

 

[Irish Pride]

Since you actually have the cable shifter, I would look over the shifter mechanism under the console very good. It sounds like you have a bad bushing. Determining which bushing is bad if that's what it is will help you pick out the repair from SHOSource.

-Chad

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

Okie dokie, thanks again. I’ll report back with my findings which I may not get until tomorrow in the afternoon.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

So, judging from your pics, you've taken a look at the two cables where they attach to the gear shift lever and found that they are both still attached. Now look at the transmission end of the cables. Inspect the horizontal cable where it attaches to the gear selector shaft. The end of the cable is a plastic square with a bushing in the middle. I think you will find that the plastic bushing is missing. If so:

https://shosource.com/products/ols/products/cable-shifter-bushing-white

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

Turns out a ball joint of some sort popped off on the underside. We just went crazy with bailing wire.

 

[Dougies for 89MTX]

Thank you for all of your help guys.

 

[BaySHO Performance]

SHO Source has a repair kit for it:

https://shosource.com/products/ols/products/cable-shifter-bushing-repair-kit-lr

 

[Airborne]

I have used bailing wire in a pinch.

Once I bought an '89 for $500, drove it home in 3rd and 4th gear. Did the bailing wire trick, drove the car for a year and did nothing else to it except oil changes, then sold it for $1500 with the bailing wire fix still keeping the cable attached. Still see the kid I sold it to still driving it. My '89 I have now has that repair BaySHO linked, worth it if you keep the car and tightens up a sloppy shifter.