Automatic Shift cable broke again
Thread Starter
7th Gear
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: Seminole Florida
Automatic Shift cable broke again
I have a 2003 50Th convertible with 33,000 miles. I like to shift the car manually from time to time. I have broke the cable a few years ago and it broke again Friday. Anyone have a solution to this problem? Car is stuck in first gear and need to take it in for repair. Is there an aftermarket solution?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Did it break in console or at transmission? I have a permanent solution at transmission. Remove the shift lever from transmission. Grind the back off the stud that connects to shift cable. Punch the stud out of lever. Tap the hole and put in a bolt. Put washers inboard and outboard on shift cable connector in place of the nylon ring thing. secure the cable connector to bolt on shift lever with a Nyalocck nut. Get the nut a little snug but not tight. Wish I had pictures. Hope that made sense. If mine ever breaks in console I will probable devise a similar solution there. Good luck! 
Administrator
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 367,711
Likes: 24,676
From: In a parallel universe. Currently own 2014 Stingray Coupe.
C7 of the Year - Modified Finalist 2021
MO Events Coordinator
St. Jude Co-Organizer
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '25
NCM Sinkhole Donor
CI 5, 8 & 11 Veteran
Seems very unusual to have the same problem twice in just 33K miles.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 106
From: The Natures Coast/Caribbean
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Racer
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 251
Likes: 102
From: O'Neill (Home of St. Pat's Weekend) NE
All right I'm with 91LSMAN in that I have a 2002 auto and all this talk about the cable pieces braking just makes me wonder just how BIG of a problem this is in the whole picture. I know that all you hear about are the problems, not the times that the cable lasts for thousands and thousands of miles and shifts. Curious minds want to know. Thanks!!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,700
Likes: 298
From: Ft. Lauderdale Fl
All right I'm with 91LSMAN in that I have a 2002 auto and all this talk about the cable pieces braking just makes me wonder just how BIG of a problem this is in the whole picture. I know that all you hear about are the problems, not the times that the cable lasts for thousands and thousands of miles and shifts. Curious minds want to know. Thanks!!
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Where and When
Two key points of failure (the "where") at the shifter and transmission connector. I had the trans end fail about 12 years ago and fixed that by reattaching the connector and holding the snap clip in place with two tie-wraps that held for years. I bought another shift cable about 2 years ago. Knowing full well at some point in time that the cable would fail at either the shifter or trans connector again (the "when"), I recently had the new cable installed. And the cycle starts all over again.
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
Replaced the nylon at the console end on a friend's 2002 a few months ago. I think he has about 110k miles.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 8,900
Likes: 1,074
From: Wisconsin
Two key points of failure (the "where") at the shifter and transmission connector. I had the trans end fail about 12 years ago and fixed that by reattaching the connector and holding the snap clip in place with two tie-wraps that held for years. I bought another shift cable about 2 years ago. Knowing full well at some point in time that the cable would fail at either the shifter or trans connector again (the "when"), I recently had the new cable installed. And the cycle starts all over again.
Last edited by JR-01; May 30, 2017 at 09:51 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 6,948
Likes: 441
From: Puyallup WA
I think we are seeing more posts like this because of the age of the cars. I just bought a new cable online last night. I'll probably have it replaced preventatively during one of my next oil changes.
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 19,980
Likes: 74
My guess is that they will all eventually fail. More a matter of time than miles. Those nylon gromets (or whatever they are called) will deteriorate and the connector at one end or the other will fall off the stud. I had to replace the cable in my 2004 last year at about 90k miles. Would have only had to replace nylon thing except I broke the cable trying to reattach to the shifter.
Replaced the nylon at the console end on a friend's 2002 a few months ago. I think he has about 110k miles.
Replaced the nylon at the console end on a friend's 2002 a few months ago. I think he has about 110k miles.
How much (just an estimate) are parts for this job? How much do you think labor hours at a shop would be?
Drifting
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,517
Likes: 159
From: Lafayette Louisiana
http://www.dormanproducts.com/itemde...9&SEName=14055
A complete new cable is about $60 dollars and it took me 3 days and language you wouldn't want the children to hear to replace that. Again a shop should do it much quicker.
There is rarely a reason to replace the entire cable.
Last edited by UM Rebel; May 30, 2017 at 10:47 AM.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 106
From: The Natures Coast/Caribbean
Wondering how many removed the torque tube, to install the cable? I used a sneaker lace and fed thru the top. I found this info on Internet or perhaps here. I had no idea the nylon bushings were available. Gonna purchase those bushings, have them on hand, either for myself or a Vette brother.
Last edited by BRKLYN; May 30, 2017 at 11:33 AM.