This is a question to anyone that has had\performed this TSB. I recently had it done and now the shifter does not return to center when you take the shifter out of 5th or 6th gears. It just lays over to the right side. The dealership insists this is normal operation until a ball at the bottom of the shifter wears. However, if I take the shifter out of 1st or 2nd gears, the shifter returns to center.

I think they're giving me a load of BS and am awaiting a District Rep's call. But if they're telling the truth, I don't want to be an ass. Thanks in advance.

 

There is a set of springs that center the stick. One for each (side to side) direction. Just in case the guy's right about a sticky "ball", can you feel any return resistance as you gently move the stick to the right? Or can you move it slightly, take your hand off it and it will stay where you left it? If this is the case, it's more than likely that when they did the job, they did not re-install the right to left return spring.
In any case, this is NOT normal operation. If it is a sticky ball, this can be "unstuck" (lubricated). I have a feeling it's not just a sticky ball.

 

I can't feel any resistance when I move the stick. It's actually much smoother than before the service. If I move it partially right and let go it will fall to the right after a short while. (30 seconds or so)

Thanks for the help.

 

This tells me there is no spring attached to that side.

 

After a quick look at the manual, it may be they assembled the trans with the detent springs in the wrong location. There are 7 detent springs and balls, with different springs going in different locations.