Sticky Shifter
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 801
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Sticky Shifter
I drove my brother's C5 base model last night. It is a 6 speed manual with 131,xxx miles on it. First thing I noticed is the shifter doesn't not seem anywhere near as smooth as my C4Z. I noticed also that the shifter will stick in its position if you push it to the left or right while in Neutral. It doesn't naturally go back to the center of neutral. Is this typical in the C5 or just higher mileage C5's? Any thoughts on what to look at?
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Billy, I would say that the shifter sticking to one side and not going to the center when in neutral is not normal. I have had two C5s with the six speed tranny and never had that kind of problem.
Safety Car
Joined: Jun 2013
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From: FW/d Texas
My 6sp stock shifter isn't the smoothest shifter I've ever had - it's a little 'notchy' but it doesn't do like the OP describes.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 2,258
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From: Appleton WI
I drove my brother's C5 base model last night. It is a 6 speed manual with 131,xxx miles on it. First thing I noticed is the shifter doesn't not seem anywhere near as smooth as my C4Z. I noticed also that the shifter will stick in its position if you push it to the left or right while in Neutral. It doesn't naturally go back to the center of neutral. Is this typical in the C5 or just higher mileage C5's? Any thoughts on what to look at?
The stickiness is not right. Could be that the shifter could use cleaning/lubrication, alignment, or has weak centering spring. Cleaning/lubrication and alignment are easy. The centering springs are actually in the transmission so no easy access. If it is the springs, it may be easier to buy an aftermarket shifter with springs in the shift box.
Last edited by 3sACROWD; Dec 28, 2016 at 06:44 AM.
