Hey everybody,

I was getting on the highway this morning and while I was shifitng into fourth my gear shift felt like it just came loose. The gear shift now seems to "float" from left-right and makes it almost impossible to hit any of my gears. Third and fourth are easy, and I think I've been able to hit first and second, but fifth/sixth and reverse are deffinitely out.

I'm not sure if I blew the short-shifter (Alta) or my clutch. The working of the clutch seems to be ok when I hit the gears, its just next-to-impossible to actually get the shifter to hit where the gear should be.

Any ideas?

 

A quick check would be to pull up on the shift ball. If the entire shifter pulls up the pivot area has failed. Make sure the set screw on the ball hasn't backed off, although that will just let the lever move up and down without changing gate positions. If it moves up an inch or so and hits a positive stop the set screw has loosened.Since you can get into some gears it appears the cables are intact.

To verify, pull the shift boot trim ring up off of the center console and look to see whether the plastic pivot point has sheared. The pivot is just a captured ball in plastic cups in the middle of the shift lever. I believe most after market shifters utilize the same pivot design. Replacement may require exhaust removal if the bottom cover is still installed.
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99% chance that the horizontal bar that goes to the rt and clips into the upper linkage has come unscrewed. A drop of locktite after cleaning it and screw it back in. Small hole through said shaft to turn it with. (small pin or allen wrench will work)

Mine had gotten sloppy feeling over the last few weeks and Way did a fix for me while we were doing the major revamp to blu.by.u week befroe last. Shifter is back as tight as new now.

 

Check your shift cables too. They're known to pop off at random times (Edmunds.com tested an early 03 and had that issue on their test car).

 

Thanks everyone. I guess I know what I'm doing on this fine Thanksgiving day tomorrow.

I'll try to post an update with what I find.

 

Keep us posted. Probably not as bad as you think I had no clue that checking the parts of my short shifter was supposed to be included in my monthly check list, it is now! LOL

 

I agree it can't be anything serious, just a PITA to fix depending on what it is.

There is definite truth to the concerns over the cables popping (stock shifter or ALTA) as well as the rod loosening. Once reason we switched machine shops some time ago was they were failing to properly tighten the assembly together. Learning lesson for us, and ALL of them are now double and triple checked prior to packaging.

If I can help in ANY way PLEASE let me know. I am home this weekend and will check my PM frequently. If it gets out of your knowledge base, I can give you my cell and you can call at anytime.

Good luck and thanks again for choosing ALTA!

 

OK, so i think it is the screw/bolt that has come loosened. I had thought it would be where the blue circle is on this pic, butit could also be where the yellow circle is.I can figure out a lot mechanically, but I don't have a whole lot of experience with cars.

The shifter does not "pull up" at all. Its locked in its original place. The shifter itself can also spin completely 360 degrees and it sounded like there was something dragging or scraping (like a screw) internally.

Any other ideas?

 

If the shaft (blue circle) is tight now, there should be some play in the end (yellow). to tighten the shaft, put a allen wrench in the hole on the shaft and use it like a handle to rotate it. (slow process) Take the circle clip off the other shaft (above yellow in pic at end of white linkage) will make this easier.

 

But that wont really do anything about the screw that sounds like its dragging around in there, will it? How do I get inside there to re-attach everything, or do I need another shifter?

 

Not sure about that sound but I know mine is now as tight as new. Did you do the original install? Do yuo have a good mech nearby? Might be time to call in the calvary if tightning it up topside does not resolve the issue.

 

Ok. I figured it out. The yellow circled piece fits into the shifter, but it looks like there is a plastic piece of the horozontal bar that is sheared off inside the shift-ball, so I can't tighten the bar because half of it is gone.

Looks like I'll need a new short-throw - which sucks because I don't have a garage to do the install in. Pray for no snow for me.

 

Yup that stinks. See if a local shop with a lift might help you out for a few bucks. not a fun project in the driveway.

 

Storm180: Thank you again for the photos etc. Got your PM. As I mention in the reply, call me today or provide a phone number to call. Sure we can work something out.

Thanks again!

 

What was the final outcome? Sounds like ALTA was stepping up to the plate?

 

Last I heard he was going to get back to me. But yeah we are going to get it fixed. Stinks that I can't blast the company that made them for me here though! Maybe someday Mark will let me tell the story!

Thanks again folks!

 

You guy's rep of standing behind your products (you have with me twice) is what makes me afraid for you in a joint venture with UseLessChip. They are the 180* opposite as ALTA.

Walk softly......

 

Yaeh, what he said. In all respects.

 

Hey now......look it isn't the product in this case (the UniChip) it is the programming done by other tuners including UniChip US. I have mentioned this in other threads, but certainly will put my two cents in here, that the gains are FAR better with ALTA programming. There are DRAMATIC differences between the ALTA mapping and the "off the shelf" mapping as Jeff and I found on the dyno.

I think it is a fair assesment to say that earlier customers may well have gotten little for their money. Thankfully, ALTA can remap those older units, update the firmware and thus give them the power they deserved for a small fee.

Like you said, we would NOT jump into any relationship with an outside company without checking the true power gains, and limitations carefully.

Hope that helps! Thanks for the kind words!

Chat soon!

 

Again good luck, my primary issue was with a faulty product, increadbly bad customer service all the way to the top. And so many lies I lost track. "I don't know who you are, you could just be anybody" No I am the guy you charged $400 on my card and when I never recieved the product, you have taken months to credit.

Not the way ALTA does business, hence my concerns for you guys....

 

I REALLY appreciate the concern. Thank you again. Hope to help people out in the future that had similar issues. They can stick to making the technology and Jeff and I can exploit the benefits, proper mapping and the proper level of customer service (which is obviously something "they" can't do!)

Hope to chat with you at an event in person! Thanks again!

Adam

 

Hey guys, sorry for the lack of update. Being a retail manager at the holidays throws your entire world into chaos. :(

But Adam's been great with some issues I've had with other products and I have no doubt he'll continue that trend.