1989 6-speed Z51 corvette here. Apparently there is a pin inside the CAGS solenoid. Is it possible for the pin in there to be out of place, loose, or not fully pulled back if the CAGS solenoid is faulty ? In other words, is there ANY chance tthat he pin could be SLIGHTLY out of place interfering with shifts from 1st to 4th gear, or is that not possible ? My CAGS is unplugged, but on occasion when shifting from 1st to 3rd gear, it feels like it's slightly hitting, clipping or knocking something, but it goes into gear. Would it be helpful to remove that CAGS pin, and then put the solenoid back in without it ? My MAIN question though is -- is it possible for the pin to be out of place and interfere with shifting ? Thank you for any thoughts on this.

 

CAGS won't cause that to happen.

I'd start scrutinizing your clutch hydraulics. How far off the floor does the clutch start to drag, or engage?

 

Thank you for your input, Tom400CFI. I can't check how far off the floor my clutch pedal starts to engage right now because we had a snow storm here in Vancouver, Canada and my car is currently surrounded by snow, but I will check it when the weather clears up. If anyone else has any thoughts about the CAGS pin (see post #1) it would be much appreciated !

 

Maybe a rare situation, or question to ask, but if anyone else has any thoughts regarding the CAGS pin in post #1, it would be greatly appreciated. Would like to get a variety of opinions on this if possible. Peace.

 

Post number 1 is very different than it was when I gave my...."opinion", so you'll likely get quite different opinions now.

 

How is the return to center action? Should be snappy and even. That not being snappy and even is a tell that is an easy fix (see zfdoc's site).

There is at least one member here that removed the CAGS hardware, sounds like a 10 min. job.

The 2 very likely issues are syncros going or the most likely, clutch master/slave leaking. I'd check the slave, then master... service as needed and then do a fluid swap on both the tranny and clutch fluid

 

Hi Tom400CFI, yea I edited my original post to be specific because I primarily want to know if the CAGS pin can ever be out of position -- even a little -- and the procedure to remove it. The other details I included were clouding my main question. Your help though on my original post was, and is GREATLY appreciated, and I made a note of it. THANK YOU !

 

Thank you vetteLT193, I'm going to take the car for a drive today. The rain finally got rid of the snow where I live, and I will check the return to center action. Based on some of my research so far, apparently the CAGS solenoid can be unscrewed from the transmission and the pin, (which is attached to a spring), can be pulled/taken out with pliers, and then one half of the solenoid is put back into the tranny, and it is recommended to use a flange bolt to screw it back into the tranny. I'm just going by memory from some of my research, but I'm wondering if anyone here has actually done this before (I haven't), and HOW they took out the pin. All that said, I would still like to determine if the pin itself could ever be out of position -- even a little interfering with shifting -- is that even possible ? Thank you for any more opinions.

 

anything is possible... and new things too now that our cars are 3 decades old. There is a post here about how it is removed, if you can't find it I'll search for ya and try to help. It could be an actioncenter post too, going on memory.

Nonetheless... if i put my $$$ on it. Slave cylinder

 

Thank you for your thoughts vetteLT193, and for informing me know about the post on removing the CAGS. I took the car for a drive today, and checked the return to center action. Before even starting the engine, from left to right the shifter snaps/springs back to center, and it does the same from right to left -- every time. Then, I turned the car on and went for a drive. After about 30 minutes of driving I was at a red light, and checked it again, and from left to right the shifter snaps to center every time, but from right to left it does not. Sometimes right to left springs back, and other times it does not, and when it does not, it stops/pauses half way and I have to tap it to return to center. I repeated this at several stop lights. I also noticed running the shifter from 1 through 6th at a red light, (while car is idling), improves the spring action from right to left. Right to left springs back more when I do that. So, it appears that after driving the car, the shifter on the right side going to left doesn't return to center as much, but left to right does every time. I don't know what any of this means, just reporting what happened. Thank you for any opinions.

 

This one https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...id-delete.html

 

Thank you for the link and photo, ChumpVette !!! Is that the CAGS solenoid removed, and replaced by a plug ? I see two plugs in the photo. Is the CAGS on the right ? Also, I read at the link that you used an Allen plug and someone suggested the CAGS thread could be M20-1.5, but they were talking about a 1995, and I have a 1989. I'm seriously thinking of removing the CAGS solenoid from my car, so I'm just wondering what Allen plug I should get, and if the photo you provided is the same as my 1989 ? Thank you for more any more insight !!!

 

from zfdoc's web site, regarding sticking going to 3rd gear:

There may be an issue with linkage that is slowing down the actuation of the 3rd gear shift event. How is the "return to center" spring action of the shifter feel? This is how well the shifter springs back to the 3/4 neutral position when released from the 1/2 neutral position or the 5/6 neutral position. The return to center action should be quick and crisp. This return to center action is initiated by the mountain detent of the shift shaft (internal) and the ball detent (roller) and two springs located just forward of the CAGS bung. If the ball detent gets crud in it, the return to center action becomes diminished. This condition is of the easiest to correct. It requires a new Ball Roller($15), 2 Compression Springs($5) and less than 5 minutes to install once access under the vehicle is gained.

 

It is a M20x1.5 You can find the plug online. It is the rearward port on the front case of the ZF. And all ZF cases are the same 89-96. Once the solenoid has been removed, just stick a magnet tool in the cavity and pull the shaft and spring out.

 

Thank you vetteLT193 and ChumpVette for providing the information I need to help me move forward on the 'return to center action' for the shifter, and the CAGS solenoid. This steers me in the right direction. At this point, I just have one other question related to the M20x1.5 plug. ChumpVette, could I trouble you to post a link to the M20x1.5 plug you used. I could search for it online, but I might buy the WRONG one. I don't know the length, etc, and it would be a HUGE relief to have a link to the exact one I should get. Again, I greatly appreciate any help. The CAGS solenoid photos are tremendous !!!

 

Here you go
https://www.ebay.com/p/1210798955?iid=384276028248

 

Very grateful for the link ChumpVette, it's a huge relief knowing that's the correct plug....SALUTE !!!

 

ChumpVette, I couldn't buy the plug at the Ebay link you posted (post #16) because they do not ship to Canada, but I found another one though that ships to Canada at the link below. Is this plug below the EXACT same plug you suggested ? I just don't want to make a mistake before buying it. Or if anyone else can confirm this, it would be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU AGAIN !

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314296877001?

 

Yup...same plug

 

....Appreciate that confirmation GreggPenn !!! THANK YOU