Transmission downshift

[John Robinson]

Back in May of this year I posted about my transmission not downshifting when I pulled the lever into a lower gear. I had some good responses and so I am updating what I have done since then. I have driven the car over 3K with spirited use of the go pedal. Back in Sept. I had the transmission flushed. today when I pulled out of the garage and put the car in gear the shift lever stiffened up and then broke lose with a noticeable noise in the tunnel area. Now here is the weird part the car now has downshift braking when you pull the lever into a lower gear. My thinking is running towards the possibility that something is wrong with either the linkage or cable from the shift lever to the transmission. Has anybody ever replaced that cable and if so what is the job like?

 

[John Robinson]

Thanks for the picture it helps to understand the fsm. My next question is there an adjustment to take up slack in the cable itself. Not seeing anything on how to do that in the FSM or I just don't understand it.

 

[boomdriver]

John, Take a look at the actual linkage on the trans before doing anything else...

IIRC the assy is held by a couple or 3 bolts that CAN come loose and you loose gears as it loosens. I lost half my trans once before...stick felt funny so I looked underneath. Linkage flopping around so the cable movement was absorbed before any action made it to the shaft. Only had middle area of gear select...D, OD,Neu....NO rev, P, or 1,2.

 

[John Robinson]

John, Take a look at the actual linkage on the trans before doing anything else...

IIRC the assy is held by a couple or 3 bolts that CAN come loose and you loose gears as it loosens. I lost half my trans once before...stick felt funny so I looked underneath. Linkage flopping around so the cable movement was absorbed before any action made it to the shaft. Only had middle area of gear select...D, OD,Neu....NO rev, P, or 1,2.

I will look into that when I can get it on a lift

 

[John Robinson]

We are supposed to have some colder weather and snow in the next week. I will put the car up on jack stands and see if I can get under it to check out the cable and those bolts. From many years of motorcycle cables I would guess if the cable is loose it has started to brake and then I will be pulling the interior apart to get to the console. It may take a few day to get to this but I will post back here with what I find out. Best case would be if the cable has stretched and I was not fully engaging the gears in the transmission when I down shifted.