Half-Inch Play In Floor Shift Handle For 2nd Gen Auto?

[Seventy6er]

I thought I'd ask before I break something.

My shift handle has about a half-inch play in every gear, and I'm not sure if I should consider adjusting the linkage at the TH350 or if I have to remove the entire center console and start finagling around on the entire floor mechanism.

Or if it's something internal with the TH350.

It only presents a problem when shifting from N to Drive, when I have to press the release button and tug it another 1/4 inch or so for it to engage in Drive.

Thoughts?

 

[Munkyslut]

It’ll definitely be all in the linkage; the box itself won’t be the culprit.

I’d remove the indicator panel from the center console and use your phone magnifier to watch the mechanism and see if it flexes or jams anywhere as you go through the gears.

At the least, it’ll be a strip-down, clean, lube, and adjust the shifter cable as per the factory instructions; it’s easy.

In the worst case, you’ll be ordering a new shifter cable.

I hope that helps.

 

[Seventy6er]

It’ll definitely be all in the linkage; the box itself won’t be the culprit.

I’d remove the indicator panel from the center console and use your phone magnifier to watch the mechanism and see if it flexes or jams anywhere as you go through the gears.

At the least, it’ll be a strip-down, clean, lube, and adjust the shifter cable as per the factory instructions; it’s easy.

In the worst case, you’ll be ordering a new shifter cable.

I hope that helps.

Yes, and thanks!

It's funny how all these issues pop up right in the middle of Spring, lol.

Murphy's Law.

 

[Munkyslut]

Yes, and thanks!

It's funny how all these issues pop up right in the middle of Spring, lol.

Murphy's Law.

I’d like to meet this Murphy guy.

I got a bone to pick with him, he’s done me over loads of times.

 

[Aus78Formula]

It depends on when and how the wear is located.

The cable from the shifter copies the trans shifts and the detents on the shifter body.

Is the wear back and forth or side to side?

The Rally ratchet shifters also wore badly, and ended up on a lean until it scraped the slot.

Likewise the nylon shifter slides would wear and crack on both types and often be shifting diagonally.

 

[Cool81]

It depends on when and how the wear is located.

The cable from the shifter copies the trans shifts and the detents on the shifter body.

Is the wear back and forth or side to side?

The Rally ratchet shifters also wore badly, and ended up on a lean until it scraped the slot.

Likewise the nylon shifter slides would wear and crack on both types and often be shifting diagonally.

You may need to replace your shifter.

 

[Aus78Formula]

Not a useful reply.

 

[Cool81]

This might help.

My fiancee had a problem similar to yours.

Something had gotten down in the gear shift housing.

Once I could remove the item, it started working normally again.

 

[Aus78Formula]

I guess we'll never know what the wear is to be able to even guess since they couldn't even be bothered returning.