on my way home from work I stopped at a gas station and filled up then I pulled out of the gas station and as I shifted from 2nd to 3rd I heard a grinding, like my synchros on my second gear do, when I pushed down the gas it was like it wasn't in gear and when I grabbed my shifter it just moved between 3rd and 4th, except now the car is stuck in 4th gear. anyone else have this problem and know what to do?

I have school at 7:30 in the morning and I can't miss anymore classes and the tags on my mr2 are expired so I'd rather not drive it.

I know this is a little late...but could be so many things. Does the clutch feel like it's engageing? If not, it's probably either the clutch master cylinder or the clutch itself.

What car do you drive? If it's a MkIV you might want to check the shift linkage cable to make sure it didn't break or come loose.

Sounds like something is either on your shift cables or linkage, by the way you said it shifted to 4th on its own.

As like, a battery falling over onto the linkage and the weight causing it to shift. But without looking at it, it is hard to say. I would definately check the linkage and cables for it being broken, loose or something on it.

tonight when I get out of class I'm gonna check the shift linkage and cables and what not, are they underneath the car or do they come through the dash?

please include the type of car either in signature or in Location on profile. If its a 1.8t then they are inside the engine bay on the right side above the transmission.

The area you want to concentrate on is on top of the tranny. you will see the whole mess of parts there. Just left of the battery. The spring loaded adjustments might have broken also. Just take a close look at it all and take pics to put on here. Pics help a lot when doing things over the net.

I am thinking that it is the linkage/cable setup, because you say it is stuck in 4th and I am sure you tried to shift while the motor is not running and it is still stuck. We will see what the outcome is after your investigation though.

This is the area you are looking for.



The rest is a little bit more complicated to check, since the exhaust would need to drop a bit, at the cat area. Then the heat shield, to see if any of that is binding. But I doubt that area needs any attention, just something to keep in mind.

thanks DTS, I don't think I'll be able to look at it till this weekend, I'm driving the mr2 dirty for a little bit I guess.

Alright so I pulled off my air filter and stuff and it turns out that my shift link cable broke, does anyone have one that works? There's one on eBay for like $80

it's the shift link cable that moves up and down not left and right anyone know what part number I'm looking for? And when I put it in will I have to drop the trans and do it from underneath or can I do it from the top without dropping anything?

Thanks phillip

I thought that it would be the cable or something in that area. Good to know that it wasn't anything else. Sometimes symtoms are easy to figure out, other time they aren't.

Don't know the part number, but the dealer can get it to you.

The only things that need to drop are the Exhaust at the Cat area, then the heatshield above that to expose the connection at the shifter box. Also, there is a crossmember bar under the car that will need to be taken off as well. You will see everything once you are under the car.


Where did the cable break? Reason I ask, is that you might be able to get a diesel geek short shifter and put it in and be done with it....plus have short shifting.

alright, looks like I'll be hitting up the dealer sometime soon, hopefully by sunday or next sunday I'll be done with it. thankfully the shop down the road lets me use their lift on sundays for free. thanks.

I hate that it happened to you, but i like being right...

Chandler wrote:

If it's a MkIV you might want to check the shift linkage cable to make sure it didn't break or come loose.

Sorry...I'm in a weird mood today.

_________________

If you need me to take a look at it for you i can. There is a local vw guy who has junkyard vws with a bunch of parts you might be able to get parts from.

Here is a how-to just in case you need a step by step on how to get to it underneath


http://www.bmracing.com/PRODUCTS/Audi/Precision-Sport-Shifter_3

alright so I got it done and I can put my car in reverse, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th but no matter how hard I try I can't get into 5th, and I no longer have to push down then go to the right to get into reverse. maybe I need to just do a little adjusting?