Auto Trans cable broke
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 524
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From: La Quinta CA
Auto Trans cable broke
Hi all, well I had the misfortune of the auto shifter cable breaking when pulling the car down into first. I was checking my trans function and had the joy of my shifter cable connector breaking, leaving me stuck in first gear. Now I will count my blessings as I was able to drive the 5 miles home in first gear, but since I live in the desert, and it was about 110 outside, I had to crank my heater on so my engine temps would stay under 230. Needless to say, it was a very hot 5 mile drive home. I don't know what engineer decided to locate the squeeze connector on the cable, in the tunnel just far enough back to cause you to have to contort your hand in unnatural ways to get that little sucker to release. I tell you what though, he sure did teach me to say some phrases that I haven't said since I smashed my finger with a hammer oh so many years ago. But on the bright side, I have a new trans cable installed now, and wont be so paranoid when I do decide to shift the car into first so I can verify that both rear tires know how to "leave their mark" for the world to see. 
James
James
Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
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From: Back in North Central OH
I feel your pain. Kind of. Mine broke off from the shifter (plastic grommet) at a gas pump in the middle of nowhere and had to have it towed. I had basic AAA. The first 5 miles was free, the other 45 were $4.00 per mile. I have upgraded my AAA coverage. The week before I drove from VA to OH for a wedding. Fortunately it didn't break down at a rest stop in WVA in the middle of the night.
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Good luck
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Hi all, well I had the misfortune of the auto shifter cable breaking when pulling the car down into first. I was checking my trans function and had the joy of my shifter cable connector breaking, leaving me stuck in first gear. Now I will count my blessings as I was able to drive the 5 miles home in first gear, but since I live in the desert, and it was about 110 outside, I had to crank my heater on so my engine temps would stay under 230. Needless to say, it was a very hot 5 mile drive home. I don't know what engineer decided to locate the squeeze connector on the cable, in the tunnel just far enough back to cause you to have to contort your hand in unnatural ways to get that little sucker to release. I tell you what though, he sure did teach me to say some phrases that I haven't said since I smashed my finger with a hammer oh so many years ago. But on the bright side, I have a new trans cable installed now, and wont be so paranoid when I do decide to shift the car into first so I can verify that both rear tires know how to "leave their mark" for the world to see.
James
James
It's good to keep a set of these on hand just in case as the cable itself rarely breaks.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/97-04-a...SABEgJOZ_D_BwE
Pro
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 594
Likes: 194
From: Back in North Central OH
Undoubtedly the same engineer who decided to use a nylon connectors both at the shifter and at the transmission to attach the cable. Ever hear of aluminum or some other material that won't break down and fail?!
It's good to keep a set of these on hand just in case as the cable itself rarely breaks.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/97-04-a...SABEgJOZ_D_BwE
It's good to keep a set of these on hand just in case as the cable itself rarely breaks.
https://www.zip-corvette.com/97-04-a...SABEgJOZ_D_BwE
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2019
Posts: 149
Likes: 28
From: Belle Isle Florida
I had a problem with my shift cable and I thought it had broke. The guy I bought the car last November said they had just had the shift cable replaced and the problem I had war it would not go into park but all other gears were one off. the problem turned out to be the clip was left off the cable at the transmission end.While the mechanic ws in the area he found almost all the exhaust system bolts were loose,missing or wrong. Also found 2 of the front bolts that hold the whole front assembly in place were about 1/4 in backed off. That cost about 500 bucks to fix all that stuff.
Thread Starter
Corvette Enthusiast
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From: La Quinta CA
James
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Glad you got it fixed and yes, some repair jobs require you to either be very flexible or creative in order to get them done.