Dead Shifter in a 97 SL

The shifter in my 97 SL is dead. I was driving it along, everything was fine, and then, all of a sudden, the shifter would no longer shift and it feels like it is just sitting there. Something may have come loose because it feels like there are no longer any places to shift to. I can move it forward and backwards and if I jerk it around enough, I can move it to the left. Should I take off the middle console cover and take a look? I don't want to be really hasty and take the thing apart and then mess something up, because I'm really good at doing that. Any advice/insight/help would be great!

Thanks a lot,
nevin


***EDIT***
Okay, so I took the console thing apart and looked below the shifter and saw that a small black plastic piece broke. So I went to the Saturn Parts Department and asked them how much it would cost to replace the small plastic peace, and the guy told me I would have to replace all the shifting cords or something and it's gonna cost 185 bucks to buy the parts (I don't think that includes labor if I had them do it). I thought about going to a junk yard and trying to find just the piece, but if i rig it with a used one, odds are it will probably break. Does anyone know if there is another way to fix this without replacing all the cords? Thanks,
nevin

Was that black piece called the Shift cable clip/retainer???

search on saturnfans.com for an aftermarket bushing that is sold indeptently of the cable for a fraction of the price.

it was that little black piece. but i dont want to replace it with a little piece of plastic that's gonna break in the next 10k miles, so im going to rig it with a 5/8ths socket, machine bolt and washer. hopefully it'll turn out okay. ill post an update after i "fix it."

ebay sells replacements that can either be stainless or nylon. both will work, and are like less then $25

yeah, i fixed it with a bolt, washer, locknut, and a 5/8ths ratchet socket. seems to be working fine. but i think ill probably shave the socket down a bit because it rubs against the housing when i put it in reverse. not a biggy, but ill shave it down some when i get around the right tools, aka, home. im at college and had to borrow a wrench from one of my girlfriend's roommates. yes, it was pink, but i didnt care. oh, and it cost me ten bucks, that was with the bit that drilled through the metal.