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No Shifting - Tech Help Please

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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 05:37 PM
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From: Punta Gorda FL
Default No Shifting - Tech Help Please

I own a 2000 C5 LS1 with automatic. Drove home and all was well. Parked, went in the house, came back out 15 minutes later to move the car into garage to do some waxing/buffing and the shifter just moves as though it isn't attached to anything!! Anyone have any clue as to why and where I start with this so I can unblock the drive? Thanks...
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 05:56 PM
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The cable snapped that connects the shifter to the transmission. Happened on my 04 at 25000 miles. Its about 300 to have someone replace it. You can do it yourself but I had an extended warranty they paid it. Those cables are getting hard to find. I would go to a local Corvette shop they charge less than a dealer.
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:01 PM
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From: Punta Gorda FL
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Thanks info RC. No local Vette shop in Key West. Just the dealer. Sounds like a tow job & a stealership item. At least it didn't happen on the highway.
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:17 PM
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Wondering if the cable became disconnected at the shifter or transmission? Has anyone else had that happen, or is breakage the common denominator? And, if it is just a dis-connect which I could attempt where do I look? Is it like at the rear wheel area or up in the tunel? Could I get to it just lifting one side of the car up a bit and perhaps pull a rear wheel? Anyone know of any pics or diagram links for this issue? Again - thanks to any/all for their assistance.
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:36 PM
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From: Deerfeild Fla
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I have read of some people saying the connector at the shifter broke on theirs. Some have posted how to fix the connector. Do a search or google it you might find a different solution.
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 06:41 PM
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Sorry,
I have a 6spd Z.
But hopefully these two bits of info may be of help.

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-t...-problems.html
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 07:59 PM
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Going to need to replace the shifter cable. It went bad on my old C5 8 years ago. Dealer fixed for about $318.00 back then.
Scary feeling but simple fix I'm sure a lot if people can do if have the time
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Old Aug 13, 2012 | 07:59 PM
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There is a hard rubber grommet at the end of the cable where it hooks to the shift lever on the transmission itself. Others have had this grommet crack apart allowing the end of the cable to fall off the transmission.

If you get the rear up about a foot, you can crwal under there and have a look.

Someone on here found a suitable grommet at an auto parts store. I believe the end on the shifter is similar. I suppose the cable could break, but they are quite heavy duty. That would only be a possibility if the shifter had been feeling really stiff and hard to move for some time.

See circled in this photo:



Ron
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Old Aug 14, 2012 | 07:31 AM
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From: Punta Gorda FL
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I really appreciate all the great feedback and helpful information from everyone. I'm capapble of jacking it up so I'll take a look to see if I can see the potentially broken gromet and effect a repair if possible. Beats the costs of towing and dealership "evaluation" costs if it is repairable at home. Again, my thanks to ALL for taking the time to provide feedback.
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Old Aug 15, 2012 | 10:48 AM
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From: Punta Gorda FL
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UPDATE - I was able to get under the car and find the shift cable linkage as shown by RonSSNova (Thanks for that pic!). It was connected but as soon as it was touched the rotten rubber gromet fell out. However, when shifter was moved, the tranny cable end was still not moving so suspect it originally broke at the shifter end and/or the cable itself. There were no prior indicators - stifness/looseness in moving the shifter prior to the breakage. Called a twoing and it is now at the dealer. Just as well as I don't have the time, it also needs new brakes/rotors and tires in the rear and a good through check out as we haven't owned it for long. Another big thank-you to those who took time to read and post a lot of helpful information. Loved the links. They were good reads and if I had more time I would have attempted the DIY repair route.
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Old Aug 17, 2012 | 09:26 AM
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Update/End of topic for me...

Dealer replaced the entire shifter cable. It had broken at the shifter end - cable just snapped about two inches into the sleeve. Of course if that hadn't happend, the tranny end would have let go in short order anyway judging how it fell off when touched (see above). Still a $300 + change job. Also had them replace the oil pressure sender while it was there since I had never seen it work. That was another 300 & change. The links provided by some of the Senior members are really good if you are a DIYer and have the time.
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Old Aug 18, 2012 | 05:27 PM
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Glad you got it fixed. It pays to be a DIYer when you own just about anything these days as the labor rates are really high.

Both items are a relatively easy fix, but a bit time consuming.
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