2nd Gen - Gear Shifter Problem I Haven't Seen Before...

[mounty71]

Hi all, I've been looking around and haven't found anyone else to have this problem before. I believe it started after I reinstalled my transmission for the 2nd time after fixing a rear main seal leak...at least I don't remember it happening ever before that.

Anyway, my shifter feels as if the detent in between D and 2 is worn or something. When I shift into D from P, R, or N (any gear to the left of D), the shifter gets caught on the right edge of the notch so that the trans isn't fully in Drive. I then have to push the shifter back to the left a bit and it will snap fully into the notch. It isn't the 2 torx screws that are loose, and I don't think the shifter tube is broken because every other gear feels tight and normal.

I'm not sure I'm explaining it well, so I took some videos to try to show what happens. The first video shows it best.

http://vid167.photobucket.com/albums/u122/mounty71/00A4BF28-AE26-4732-A298-6A2BCB10C2C5_zpselktensd.mp4
http://vid167.photobucket.com/albums/u122/mounty71/12BC3351-A155-4162-B56A-22A6AA7E0126_zpsdbr6uwyc.mp4
http://vid167.photobucket.com/albums/u122/mounty71/CFCF4AA7-8890-4DBA-BC37-20C3BCCA41D0_zpsarelkldg.mp4

I'm hoping someone might have an idea of what's broken/worn before I need to tear into the dash. Thanks.

 

[SoNic67]

At install time, did you align correctly the shifter N position with the transmission N position?
It might be just a matter of loosing that nut on the transmission case and fiddle until both are perfectly in N.
If your cable adjuster got loose, you might need to re-adjust the length.
http://www.gresk.com/2011/02/gear-shift-lever-adjustment-and.html

 

[mounty71]

I don't exactly remember anything not being aligned when reattaching the shifter cable linkage. And that was done several months ago and 1000+ miles ago anyway with no other adverse problems, and every gear is fully operational and in sync with the shifter selector on the dash, so I think everything is aligned correctly.