So I am driving down the interstate today in 6th gear and I look down to my shifter and I notice that it looks like it is in neutral... but that can't be because I can still accelerate and everthing. SO I feel it to make sure that it is still engaged... and it is, but it can be easily moved back and forth within the gear.
It is like this in all of the gears where it feels like there is barely anything holding it in place. I think it is the bushings, but I wanted to see what you guys thought and if yall have had any similar problems. Also, while in neutral I can take my shifter and move it in a complete circle.
It is not slipping or grinding or anything like that.


Thanks for all your help.
Trish

 

When you are not in gear, will the stick always return to the central resting position? If you push it to the left or right, does it stay there or come back to center? It sounds like the left/right springs are broken or detached.

 

Hmmm...easiest thing to check would be to see if the small white nylon bushing broke off the bottom of the shifter, and fell into the housing. I'd pull the shifter and have a look

 

thanks... I am on my way to the mechanic and let yall know what he says. It does return to the center resting position when it is not in gear.

 

okay... so what type of bushings do I get??? should I get polyurethane or what seems to work best?

 

You have a 2003. It's still under warranty, right? You shouldn't have to deal with this.

 

well, I have to deal with it cause I did not buy it from the dealership. I got mine at an auction and it had flood damage when I bought it. I started driving it at 350 miles and now it has almost 19000.
I am pretty sure I need to buy the pivot cover housing thing at the bottom of the shifter. Hopefully I can get one in the next day or so.

 

If the car was flooded, chances are the grease inside the shifter housing has dried out, and the lever the nylon ball rides in has rusted up. ( Ive got a trans out of a fire car, that was put out, very corroded shifter housing) You need to remove the lever and clean everything. Then relube with high temp grease.

 

yea.. I will def. clean everything while I have it apart and then regrease it back up.