I was autocrossing today and the gear level came loose! During one run it started rotating - the whole level would rotate around the shaft but it still shifted correctly (although harder to control). During the next run it got worse - now it was rotating and moving up and down. At the end of the run I found I could lift the whole lever up until it was only held in place by the boot around it. While moving it around I tried pushing it down and it ended up firmly in place - I cannot get it loose again and it no longer rotates.

Any idea what happened? What needs to be done to make sure this doesn't happen again?

 

bump - help!!

 

There has been another recent post with the same basic problem this week or so. (nut came loose) you need to have the dealer look at it.

 

If you are referring to this post https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=116047, I don't think it is the same. It talks about the linkage between the gear lever and the transmission coming loose, I have the whole shift lever itself coming loose but the shifing mechanism itself works OK. The other strange thing is that it seemed to cure itself within a couple of hours. Somehow it has snapped back into place. My dealer is a 3 hour drive away and I bet that if I drove over to show them this they would just say there is nothing wrong.

 

I am not sure just what the problem you're having is. However, it sounds like the shift **** could be loose on the shifter. Since I have replaced the stock shifter for a short shift kit (Craven) I have had a chance to find out how to remove and refit the stock shift ****. It is a friction fit on the shifter and may have come loose on you. If this is the case, try pressing down on the shift **** making sure it is lined up and then striking it hard with your hand to reset it on the shifter.

Hope that helps, but if your gear changing remains operational, the only thing I can think of is that the **** has come loose, especially since you said it can rotate. One other thing that could be going on is that the pin that is in the shift **** has broken and no longer keeps the **** from spinning.

Paul

 

It was the whole lever that came loose. I could feel that it was in a hole in the shift mechanism below the leather boot so I could still change gear but I could list the whole lever up a couple of inches to separate it from the shift mechanism. Then it snapped back into position and has been fine since. I cannot see what is going on to even guess what might have happened.

 

My shift **** itself started coming loose and rotating about a week after I got the car. I tried turning it to tighten it but it didn't seem to work. After a few days I just turned it to the correct position and smacked it down hard with the palm of my hand. It's been ok since, about 5 weeks.

 

That is exactly like mine - at least I now know I am not nuts!

 

Sounds like a warranty issue! I'd take care of it before you can't shift while in traffic.

 

Me too! same here...same issue i have. the other day it just came loose and it was rotating left, right. if you push it down in place ,it stays tight for a while then it's loosened again. i brought it to the dealership and the girl said it's normal...i actually believed her at the time! but then i realized this can't be right! so i made an appointment to talk to the technician instead. i decided to chk w. the forum to see if anyone else has this problem.. i am not nuts either!

 

yah, it started coming loose just after 3 wks! what irritated was the lady at the dealer saying it's normal...i was retarded enough to believe her!