I started my car and was about to drive away and the gear shift lever flopped back and forth without having any effect. I parked in neutral and the car is still in neutral. I can't pull the gear shift vertically up higher than normal or anything but it just flops without resistance as far as fore-and-aft motion goes.

No evidence beforehand of a developing problem.

Don't have my Haines manual with me.

What has likely happened? How much am I going to have to take apart to get to it?

Is there the slightest chance I can reach it just by taking the plastic console out?

Was it just a freak coincidence that it happened right on the first attempted engagement of the transmission after the car had been sitting for about 6 hours, rather than leaving me stranded at some random place on the side of the road or highway, or is there some explanation for that?

97 Saturn SL-1, manual transmission

 

shifter cable bushing failure. Happens to every 5 spd S car sooner or later. It fastens the shifter cable ends to the bottom of the shifter.

There are many replacement parts out there. Some from large companies like Dorman, some from smaller folks on Ebay. The plastic ones usually mimic the OEM design.

You remove the shifter ****, then raise the back of the center console until you can lift the front out of its resing place, and remove. I believe you also have to remove the parking brake cover to have clearance to remove the center console.

This gives you full access to the bottom of the shifter and The shifter cable ends. Easy DIY..

EDIT: Shifter Ball removal comments deleted)

 

Thank you so much for the quick and detailed reply! What would we do without the interwebs ...

 

We'd have to go back to the old days of figuring things out for ourselves! LOL

 

I didn't have to remove the shifter **** to replace the bushing. It was not in the way of removing the console.

 

On the 97, 98 and 02 ones I worked on the boot was integral to the shift tower so it stayed in place when the console was removed. Perhaps Gen 1 had the boot as part of the console.

 

I will defer to you.
My memory is not what it never was.
I also worked on my 95 and 97, one by the side of the road, and upon reflection, I simply removed the center console with no need to remove the shifter ball.

Thank you for the correction, sir.
Above post deleted.

And welcome back.

 

Well, I tried to install a Dorman replacement bushing, part 14043, and several of the plastic fingers that needed to expand to go over the ball, broke off during installation.

I was pushing right in the middle of the rounded plastic **** area with my finger, not using any tools on it or anything.

I wonder if the cold weather may have been a factor, as it is 22 degrees out.

Disappointing-- if I try again with another one, seems I'll likely get the same results.

Update: currently have the cable end zip-tied to the shifter lever

Update: I don't think the zip-tie arrangement is really letting me get all the gears reliably.

 

Well, found two more examples of the same part here in town, Dorman 14043.

I'll make sure to warm up the inside of the car before installation this time.

For anyone who has used this part, did you follow the directions and put it in place on the ball first before putting the cable end in place, or did you do like some people have recommended on the web and center the part in the cable end first before snapping it down on the ball?

Thanks --

PS I also ordered this version of the bushing from Saturnbushingman on ebay-- https://www.ebay.com/itm/12483399594...kAAOxyQBJRE8~P -- it appears to be plastic, not the stainless steel one I've seen mentioned -- but it won't be here for a few days--

 

You want the Delrin version.

23 bucks on evilbay. Free shipping.

They be tough. Last many a moon.

Race Part Solution Superstore is the seller.