96 Sunfire GT M/T cant shift into 2, 4, or R

[briand212]

I hope someone can help with this one. on the way home from work I turned a corner in 1st and suddenly was unable to shift into second. The shifter feels weird the patteren is all off, I can shift into 1st 3rd and 5th but nothing else. I have to pull the shifter all the way down to move between the 3 gears I have left and it feels like it is binding. Now the other wierd part after stopping the car it all went back to normal but after I got home I tried shifting into reverse and it went back to the same problem only the 3 gears

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks

[CavRacer]

You most likely have a shift cable problem. Maybe something is caught.

[jakegday]

i can promise you that you have a shift cable problem, ive had the same problem in the past, around $300 for parts and labor

[CavLCD128]

lol...i knew someone would finally have a problem i know exactly first hand what it is...lol to bad everyone else already beat me to it. it is your shift cables...if not the ones under ur shifter then its the ones that connect to your engine because if they arnt perfect they wont change...i guess i was lucky cuz i just couldnt go into reverse...its 135.92 for 2 chevy cavalier 2.2L shift cables
Good Luck

[briand212]

Thanks Everyone for the help !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jakegday]

CavLCD, did the person you knew fix it themself?? i went to the shop when they were fixing mine, i saw all the bullshit troubles they were having and it was hot as hell out that day, i thought $300 was a bargain (especially when i went there thinking i'd be buying a new transmission)

on mine the problem was at the transmission end of the cables

[CavLCD128]

well i installed my B&M i didnt understand how to do it and i was trying to disconnect the shift cable to the old shifter i broke a few tiny pieces...this causing me 2 rip everything out and LEARN...yea im gonna call it a learning experience...400 dollars worth of learning lol
anyway i found a problem that i tried to fix and ended up making it worse, thus so i had to get both cables replaces...i baught the cables from the dealership then had my machanic put them on...long story short...he did it for like 25-50 bucks.
problem solved

[martinez205]

i'm so glad i ran into this thread. i am having the same problems with my 97 sunfire. when the problem started i had to drive home in 1st 3rd and 5th. i wat thinking i was gonna have to put in a whole tranny. i guess i'll look at it a lil harder but i couldnt make much of the cables. i guess i'll look at them a lil harder. thanx guys.