Posted by Lars Olbimmerguy on July 09, 2004 at 11:17:45 from 216.228.163.41
In Reply to: Re: to Peter posted by Noel on July 09, 2004 at 10:23:02:
Not once was the linkage displaced or disconnected from the shift lever or the transmission. The think that makes me think you do not have a disconnected lever is that "when I hold the lever up, I can shift to all gears". I think you said that earlier.
In all three cases that I had this happen, when I could catch the end of the linkage bracket at the back and hold it up against the tunnel, all shifting was normal. In all cases, either the bolts backed out partially or completely from the transmission, OR a tab on the bracket (that holds the lever) and was the bolt hole tab, broke off the bracket.
In the case of the loose, or lost bolts, it was difficult to get the bolts back in because of placement (top of the transmission---IN the tunnel), but with the right combination of extensions, swivel sockets, etc. was possible.
Now, in the case of my current car, the bolt hole tab is broken entirely away, meaning that the trans will have to come out.
The first time it happened, I took it to a shop and they were able to tighten down the bolts without removing the driveshaft, but that fix only lasted 3 months.... (it was a dealer and I presume they knew where all the bolts were, but simply could not get the right leverage on them)
If you get it up on a rack, or up high enough to get comfortably under it, with good light, you should be able to wiggle the lever and bracket up and down, and at least see where the bolts are, and if the boltholes are broken off the bracket at the back.
Because of the poor design on this, I actually think it's important to have a tang or bracket on the very rear of the bracket, ie behind the lever, connected to the body in a way that captures downward stress, but still allows the torque motion upward that the transmission needs inside the body tunnel.