Shifter gone, had the car a month...what cables, etc????

[BluSoul]

My shifter just when kaput; I shifted in reverse to park, and the cable or something popped, and I had no gears at all (luckily I had enough momentum to get it into the parking spot). Now the shifter moves around like a water hose on high blast with nothing holding it. To be honest, I was always highly suspicious of this dang shifter from the beginning; it has always jammed, or something always seemed to be retarding its shift -- to me, its never shifted smoothly. I've never driven a mtx with shifter/gears this sluggish. What's the deal with this thing shifting like this?

I've had the car just over a month -- out of 30-day warranty. I've already replaced the clutch with OEM just to hold me over until I'm ready for a clutchmasters or fidanza (that wont come until after I've swapped engines/trannies, hopefully DCR...much later to come).

I'm not familiar with quality aftermarket parts on shifters/cables/etc for the neon....although I do know about maddog STSs -- but is maddog trustworthy; what parts are??

Please help; I need my car fixed right away, I can't let it stay parked here too long. What do I need to get for quality and smooth shifting in the neon -- what aftermarket cables/etc. do I need?

[sxmania]

It isnt something as simple as the bushings falling out is it? if so its an easy fix at least.

[BluSoul]

I'm removing the console; I absolutely have no choice. I don't want to have the car towed and it turns out to be something as simple as bushings. Might be cables, though...my gut.

Regardless, I simply do not like the stock shifter at all, so I'm going Maddog STS as soon as I'm out of this funk. I've been searching the forums, and found one guy (Tim_K) over at TurboDodge who looked into having his cables modded by a machinist, but I haven't got a word back from him about a result (check the link) >> http://www.turbododge.com/forums/f4/f22 ... ght-2.html

If its bushings, I will order the Boogers (actually, I will order them anyway). However, if its the cable, are there any Hi perf aftermarket cables for 2GN neons ('03), anybody?

I'm in a bind, guys. Once I determine what is up after removing the console, then its going to be parts time. That's what I need to know...once I find out the issue, I'll need to know what are the best parts for my problem?

If the cable(s) snapped, I'm gonna want the best cables I can find, buy them, move the car, and then hook them right onto the maddog once it gets here.

[OB]

It takes 5 minutes to remove the center console to take a look at the shift assembly and cables. It takes another 30 seconds to pop the hood and check the bushings and cables at the transaxle, under the battery tray.

A STS is not in any way a SMOOTHER shifter. If anything it makes shifting more difficult and much less comfortable. That's part of the way they work and they are ALL like that.

There are no aftermarket cables for our cars to my knowledge. There is no need. If you broke a cable, replace it. The linkage is very well built from the factory. The problem is more likely the transaxle, where the quality is questionable. My suspicion is that paper synchro components are used, along with plastic lined selectors, causing indirect shift action. A lot of newer transaxles are being made with cheaper components to cut costs. They work well, but are not very good for the enthusiast.

[Donkeypuncher]

I would bet money it's the bushings where the shifter linkage meets the trans. My car had the same problem when I bought it, the shifter would wobble around with lots of movement while in gear. I only had 1 bushing missing so it still went into gear, sounds like both are shot on yours.

[BluSoul]

It takes 5 minutes to remove the center console to take a look at the shift assembly and cables. It takes another 30 seconds to pop the hood and check the bushings and cables at the transaxle, under the battery tray.

A STS is not in any way a SMOOTHER shifter. If anything it makes shifting more difficult and much less comfortable. That's part of the way they work and they are ALL like that.

There are no aftermarket cables for our cars to my knowledge. There is no need. If you broke a cable, replace it. The linkage is very well built from the factory. The problem is more likely the transaxle, where the quality is questionable. My suspicion is that paper synchro components are used, along with plastic lined selectors, causing indirect shift action. A lot of newer transaxles are being made with cheaper components to cut costs. They work well, but are not very good for the enthusiast.

Actually, it took me about 3 minutes to remove the console. Anyway, cutting to the chase, its the selector cable at the tranny end. The plastic housing that connects to the lever melted so bad it simply popped of. And of course, that means its the cable as I thought, and I was afraid of that.....craps. Wedged folded paper in there and drove home ('bout 55 miles). Friggin' cable costs about a buck fifty at the dealership, so I'm hitting the bone yard, perhaps another application as those guys discussed over there at TurboD. As stated, the design could be better. In my mind, that terminal connecting piece should be metal, and the cable strengthened, not to say that the stock assembly is terrible, but I quickly agree that it could be made better.

Some stock shifters are better than others (in fact, thats what the turboD guys are saying), but I cannot comment on the AM sts shifters. Firmer shift is fine. What I mean by "smoother" is that, I want the shifting to stay consistent. Some days my shifter would shift good, but on other days I had to play around with it just moments before it would push into the gear I wanted -- that's not smooth. Other stock shifters do that, granted, but not all of them. My quest is to make my shifter consistently smooth. I don't mind it being firm, I can get used to that.

Firmer, smoother, and quicker gearing is what I'm looking for in the maddog -- does it have all of the above? Guess I'll have to try it.

Anyway, I just ordered the boogers, and I'll be shopping bone yard or elsewhere, perhaps even here (WTB). Also getting maddog. Within next 2 weeks, everything should be installed, providing I can find a darn cable...which means I will be outta wheels a bit. Not terribly excited about that.

[OB]

It will be VERY firm. I sold my STS after about 2 years; it just got old. A stock shifter with Boogs is perfect. Try it out and see what you think man, that's the only way to know. If you dont like it, sell it and try my route.

[occasional demons]

Anyway, cutting to the chase, its the selector cable at the tranny end. The plastic housing that connects to the lever melted so bad it simply popped of.

Exactly what came off? the center piece, or the whole ring that the center goes into?
If it is just the center, which I think it is, (if you could stuff paper in there and still shift to get it home) then all you need is to slap the boogers in place. No need to get cables.

[Mopar00Neon]

Even if the plastic piece that holds the boogers broke, you dont need new cables.

I broke mine swapping my stock shifter for an SRT shifter. Do a search on the other .org for 'kyles rod end mod'... just cut the cable, thread it, and thread on the rod end. Its been working fine in my car for quite a few years now. I have Boogers on the tranny side, and rod ends in the interior.