Saved $130 with fix for manual shift linkage

[hughw]

After asking for advice about a fix for my shift linkage for manual SC2..
(the plastic bushing holding the shift linkage onto the lever broke ..
the part was not available..would be required to purchase $160 cable kit to get the plastic bushing).... sierrup615 answered and referred me
to www.saturnfans.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=517128 which as an
ad for a $32 fix which consisted of a steel bushing to replace the
plastic one....Its been installed for a couple of weeks now and works fine....

[cordog21]

Hey there, I just found this site, and found your post. I am wondering if I am having the same problem you encountered. Unfortunatly I am not very auto inclined. So I'm wondering what the problem was with your vehicle. And I'm hoping maybe the same is wrong with mine. I have a 1998 Saturn SL1 thats manual of course, and about five minutes ago I was parallel parking infront of my house. I reversed into the spot, puled forward to get the front end in, and then put it in reverse again to straighten out. What I'm not sure is if there was any grinding because I had the radio on. However I didn't feel anything in the gear shifter, or the clutch. But when I took it out of reverse from straightening it out the gear shifter went limp. Almost like it isn't attached any longer. It just moves around, and I have no idea what happened.

So I'm wondering if this is the same problem you had with your car, or if you might have any knowledge of what this could be. Any information that you could offer me would be greatly appreciated, and thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Cordog21

Originally Posted by hughw

After asking for advice about a fix for my shift linkage for manual SC2..
(the plastic bushing holding the shift linkage onto the lever broke ..
the part was not available..would be required to purchase $160 cable kit to get the plastic bushing).... sierrup615 answered and referred me
to www.saturnfans.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=517128 which as an
ad for a $32 fix which consisted of a steel bushing to replace the
plastic one....Its been installed for a couple of weeks now and works fine....

[saturnspeed_12]

is it loose going like 3rd to 4th or side to side? if back and fourth then it could be the bushing on the shifter, its always that bushing that breaks. but if its side to side then it could very well be the cable. but in both cases it could be the cable. now if your not mechanically inclined, then im not sure if you should dig into doing like the cable replacement. maybe you should go and get a repair manual and read up on things. it will help people like me from getting hand cramps. they are normally like $15-$20 at most any parts store. i have a haynes manual, since i couldnt get a chilton, but both of them should be fine. i use mine for torque specs.

[hughw]

Originally Posted by cordog21

Hey there, I just found this site, and found your post. I am wondering if I am having the same problem you encountered. Unfortunatly I am not very auto inclined. So I'm wondering what the problem was with your vehicle. And I'm hoping maybe the same is wrong with mine. I have a 1998 Saturn SL1 thats manual of course, and about five minutes ago I was parallel parking infront of my house. I reversed into the spot, puled forward to get the front end in, and then put it in reverse again to straighten out. What I'm not sure is if there was any grinding because I had the radio on. However I didn't feel anything in the gear shifter, or the clutch. But when I took it out of reverse from straightening it out the gear shifter went limp. Almost like it isn't attached any longer. It just moves around, and I have no idea what happened.

So I'm wondering if this is the same problem you had with your car, or if you might have any knowledge of what this could be. Any information that you could offer me would be greatly appreciated, and thank you very much for your time and consideration.

Cordog21

It's probably the bushing...You can do a temporary fix with three or four wire ties to hold the cable assembly onto the gear shift shaft...I ran mine like that for several weeks....While lifting the console (plastic cover) out of the way be carefull with the air bag module (mounted right beside the gear shift assembly)...I have heard you could cause it to deploy while working around it....Taking the battery cable loose would avoid any problems. The peices of the bushing are probably under the floor carpeting...you could lay some paper towels to keep things from disapearing.

[LuckyRJ]

I had to do the same fix for my 2000 SL1. I, however, had to replace the entire shift cable b/c it frayed between the transmission and the bushing in question. It's not hard at all to fix, but I would reccommend using two jacks on the front end (one on each side).