shifter/transmission problem (MGW)
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 25
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shifter/transmission problem (MGW)
Ok, so this would be my first issue with anything mechanical on my car (03 Z06). A couple details first: MGW shifter w/ short shaft, 22k miles on the car, No track days or any recent hard operation of the trans, changed trans fluid to AMSOIL ~500 miles ago with no indication of any abnormal operation until this morning, which I will no try and describe...
Heading out for work this morning (after my usual obligatory 5-10 minute idling warmup) I shifted into reverse, then first and then second to get out of my neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary and nothing felt odd.
However, approaching the main road, I clutch in and shift to first from second while coming to a stop. FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM: As I engage the clutch in first from the stop car seems hesitant and bogs under my normal throttle application that would otherwise be sufficient for getting moving. It feels almost like an unlocked torque converter on an automatic, that "not quite in gear feeling." So I short shift up into second; no problems with power transfer when reengaging clutch in second but the physical position of the shift seemed short. I didn't feel the normal notches I normally do when pulling down into the second gate and the shaft seemed like it didn't travel back quite as far as it normally does. SECOND, CONCRETE, SIGN OF PROBLEM: I then shift up to third and what definitely "felt" like the normal position of the third gate, but upon clutch release, I was in first gear. Power transfer flet entirely normal, like I had just mishifted, but shifter position looked and felt like third.
I was only a 1/4 mile from home at this point so I turned around and limped back in second gear. When shifting back into first and then second, I never had a power transfer issue like before in first but I did not try to shift up into third again. It's important to note that at no point did the trans ever grind or make any odd noises. Most all of my perception of the problem was through the shifter. Also, the shaft that tightens down on the actual shifting unit was securely attached. No play and was not twisted out of the position I had originally set it in.
Now before I start pulling things apart, can anyone give me an educate diagnosis? My knee jerk reaction is the just the shifter itself needs to be adjusted from inside the car. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good documentation for that? Also, should I jack the car up to look at the linkage to the transmission, what might I be looking for specifically?
It is my sincere hope that this is not a sign of any actual transmission damage or problems, but if so, please let me know if anyone has experienced something similar and what it turned out to be. Any other pointers in general would be greatly appreciated. I have gleaned much excellent technical info from this forum and its members in the past using search, but didn't find anything specific enough to diagnos my current problem. My mechanical aptitude is probably somewhere between novice and intermediate, which is to say if this is a linkage adjustment problem, I can probably fix it with a little guidance, but beyond that please keep it mind when describing your solutions.
Thanks guys.
Heading out for work this morning (after my usual obligatory 5-10 minute idling warmup) I shifted into reverse, then first and then second to get out of my neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary and nothing felt odd.
However, approaching the main road, I clutch in and shift to first from second while coming to a stop. FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM: As I engage the clutch in first from the stop car seems hesitant and bogs under my normal throttle application that would otherwise be sufficient for getting moving. It feels almost like an unlocked torque converter on an automatic, that "not quite in gear feeling." So I short shift up into second; no problems with power transfer when reengaging clutch in second but the physical position of the shift seemed short. I didn't feel the normal notches I normally do when pulling down into the second gate and the shaft seemed like it didn't travel back quite as far as it normally does. SECOND, CONCRETE, SIGN OF PROBLEM: I then shift up to third and what definitely "felt" like the normal position of the third gate, but upon clutch release, I was in first gear. Power transfer flet entirely normal, like I had just mishifted, but shifter position looked and felt like third.
I was only a 1/4 mile from home at this point so I turned around and limped back in second gear. When shifting back into first and then second, I never had a power transfer issue like before in first but I did not try to shift up into third again. It's important to note that at no point did the trans ever grind or make any odd noises. Most all of my perception of the problem was through the shifter. Also, the shaft that tightens down on the actual shifting unit was securely attached. No play and was not twisted out of the position I had originally set it in.
Now before I start pulling things apart, can anyone give me an educate diagnosis? My knee jerk reaction is the just the shifter itself needs to be adjusted from inside the car. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good documentation for that? Also, should I jack the car up to look at the linkage to the transmission, what might I be looking for specifically?
It is my sincere hope that this is not a sign of any actual transmission damage or problems, but if so, please let me know if anyone has experienced something similar and what it turned out to be. Any other pointers in general would be greatly appreciated. I have gleaned much excellent technical info from this forum and its members in the past using search, but didn't find anything specific enough to diagnos my current problem. My mechanical aptitude is probably somewhere between novice and intermediate, which is to say if this is a linkage adjustment problem, I can probably fix it with a little guidance, but beyond that please keep it mind when describing your solutions.
Thanks guys.
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Ok, so this would be my first issue with anything mechanical on my car (03 Z06). A couple details first: MGW shifter w/ short shaft, 22k miles on the car, No track days or any recent hard operation of the trans, changed trans fluid to AMSOIL ~500 miles ago with no indication of any abnormal operation until this morning, which I will no try and describe...
Heading out for work this morning (after my usual obligatory 5-10 minute idling warmup) I shifted into reverse, then first and then second to get out of my neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary and nothing felt odd.
However, approaching the main road, I clutch in and shift to first from second while coming to a stop. FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM: As I engage the clutch in first from the stop car seems hesitant and bogs under my normal throttle application that would otherwise be sufficient for getting moving. It feels almost like an unlocked torque converter on an automatic, that "not quite in gear feeling." So I short shift up into second; no problems with power transfer when reengaging clutch in second but the physical position of the shift seemed short. I didn't feel the normal notches I normally do when pulling down into the second gate and the shaft seemed like it didn't travel back quite as far as it normally does. SECOND, CONCRETE, SIGN OF PROBLEM: I then shift up to third and what definitely "felt" like the normal position of the third gate, but upon clutch release, I was in first gear. Power transfer flet entirely normal, like I had just mishifted, but shifter position looked and felt like third.
I was only a 1/4 mile from home at this point so I turned around and limped back in second gear. When shifting back into first and then second, I never had a power transfer issue like before in first but I did not try to shift up into third again. It's important to note that at no point did the trans ever grind or make any odd noises. Most all of my perception of the problem was through the shifter. Also, the shaft that tightens down on the actual shifting unit was securely attached. No play and was not twisted out of the position I had originally set it in.
Now before I start pulling things apart, can anyone give me an educate diagnosis? My knee jerk reaction is the just the shifter itself needs to be adjusted from inside the car. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good documentation for that? Also, should I jack the car up to look at the linkage to the transmission, what might I be looking for specifically?
It is my sincere hope that this is not a sign of any actual transmission damage or problems, but if so, please let me know if anyone has experienced something similar and what it turned out to be. Any other pointers in general would be greatly appreciated. I have gleaned much excellent technical info from this forum and its members in the past using search, but didn't find anything specific enough to diagnos my current problem. My mechanical aptitude is probably somewhere between novice and intermediate, which is to say if this is a linkage adjustment problem, I can probably fix it with a little guidance, but beyond that please keep it mind when describing your solutions.
Thanks guys.
Heading out for work this morning (after my usual obligatory 5-10 minute idling warmup) I shifted into reverse, then first and then second to get out of my neighborhood. Nothing out of the ordinary and nothing felt odd.
However, approaching the main road, I clutch in and shift to first from second while coming to a stop. FIRST SIGN OF PROBLEM: As I engage the clutch in first from the stop car seems hesitant and bogs under my normal throttle application that would otherwise be sufficient for getting moving. It feels almost like an unlocked torque converter on an automatic, that "not quite in gear feeling." So I short shift up into second; no problems with power transfer when reengaging clutch in second but the physical position of the shift seemed short. I didn't feel the normal notches I normally do when pulling down into the second gate and the shaft seemed like it didn't travel back quite as far as it normally does. SECOND, CONCRETE, SIGN OF PROBLEM: I then shift up to third and what definitely "felt" like the normal position of the third gate, but upon clutch release, I was in first gear. Power transfer flet entirely normal, like I had just mishifted, but shifter position looked and felt like third.
I was only a 1/4 mile from home at this point so I turned around and limped back in second gear. When shifting back into first and then second, I never had a power transfer issue like before in first but I did not try to shift up into third again. It's important to note that at no point did the trans ever grind or make any odd noises. Most all of my perception of the problem was through the shifter. Also, the shaft that tightens down on the actual shifting unit was securely attached. No play and was not twisted out of the position I had originally set it in.
Now before I start pulling things apart, can anyone give me an educate diagnosis? My knee jerk reaction is the just the shifter itself needs to be adjusted from inside the car. Can anyone point me in the direction of some good documentation for that? Also, should I jack the car up to look at the linkage to the transmission, what might I be looking for specifically?
It is my sincere hope that this is not a sign of any actual transmission damage or problems, but if so, please let me know if anyone has experienced something similar and what it turned out to be. Any other pointers in general would be greatly appreciated. I have gleaned much excellent technical info from this forum and its members in the past using search, but didn't find anything specific enough to diagnos my current problem. My mechanical aptitude is probably somewhere between novice and intermediate, which is to say if this is a linkage adjustment problem, I can probably fix it with a little guidance, but beyond that please keep it mind when describing your solutions.
Thanks guys.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: South Western Ontario
Thread Starter
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I will pull the console out and check the base tomorrow. Just odd that it was so precise for 10k miles and now just all of the sudden is off. Drove it yesterday too. The shaft was the first thing I checked because I always did worry about that smooth metal tighened onto smooth metal attachement method. but it hadn't moved and was still tight on the base.
I like warm seals and proper operating temperature before driving. Got my last Jeep to 370k with out a single major driveline failure before the timing chain finally gave up on that philosophy. Was it really because I always let it warm up? Maybe, maybe not. But the extra few cents in gas a day was worth it if it did.
I like warm seals and proper operating temperature before driving. Got my last Jeep to 370k with out a single major driveline failure before the timing chain finally gave up on that philosophy. Was it really because I always let it warm up? Maybe, maybe not. But the extra few cents in gas a day was worth it if it did.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 11,152
Likes: 890
From: South Western Ontario
It's not where the handle attaches to the base, it's likely the connection at the base of the shifter to the rod going to the trans.
LOL, I've watched my oil temps and it takes me at least 15 minutes of driving for the oil to get up to temp. So, if you want to get everything to the proper operating temp then you'd better idle it longer. And you really need to figure out some type of temporary rear-end support so you can pick the rear-end off the ground and get the trans and diff properly warmed up too...
LOL, I've watched my oil temps and it takes me at least 15 minutes of driving for the oil to get up to temp. So, if you want to get everything to the proper operating temp then you'd better idle it longer. And you really need to figure out some type of temporary rear-end support so you can pick the rear-end off the ground and get the trans and diff properly warmed up too...
