A4 shift cable fix
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
From: St.Johns FL
A4 shift cable fix
Hey guys. Just had to say thanks and brag a little. This forum has been one of the most helpful and useful I have ever frequented and I don't even currently own a Vette.
My aunt's 2001 coupe was not shifting out of park and my dad was standing there talking to a wrecker driver before he finally called me. I convinced him to send the wrecker home and leave it overnight (I work 24 on/48 off). I didn't want them dragging it and ruining the transaxle. I hopped on here and within a few minutes had a good idea of the solution.
Next morning we rolled up with a jack, blocks and a few tools. As I hoped, I crawled under to find the shift cable dangling near the gearbox. A couple zip ties got it held on well enough to get it in gear and home. Once back at my house, I pulled the adjuster bracket off the cable to find the rubber bushing was cracked and all that was left was the inside half. The cable appeared good and since I didn't want to wait for parts to ship, it was off to the local hardware store. If you don't have a good, local old school hardware store near you, I am so sorry. They are getting hard to find, but are truly indispensable.
$2.07 later, I was leaving Oceanway Hardware with a small brown bag full of possibilities. What I ended up using was one small nylon spacer, a nylon bushing sleeve that fit inside the spacer and over the cable end and a small e-clip. These parts totaled $0.79. I left the remains of the original bushing in place after trimming it flush. Then I trimmed the nylon spacer and sleeve down enough to give the e-clip room. Went together nicely and feels pretty solid. Even if it fails, I have the parts to remake it with a 10-32 socket head bolt and washer instead of a the e-clip. I submit this as a contender for the cheapest Corvette repair ever to make an undriveable car driveable. Thanks for steering me in the right direction
My aunt's 2001 coupe was not shifting out of park and my dad was standing there talking to a wrecker driver before he finally called me. I convinced him to send the wrecker home and leave it overnight (I work 24 on/48 off). I didn't want them dragging it and ruining the transaxle. I hopped on here and within a few minutes had a good idea of the solution.
Next morning we rolled up with a jack, blocks and a few tools. As I hoped, I crawled under to find the shift cable dangling near the gearbox. A couple zip ties got it held on well enough to get it in gear and home. Once back at my house, I pulled the adjuster bracket off the cable to find the rubber bushing was cracked and all that was left was the inside half. The cable appeared good and since I didn't want to wait for parts to ship, it was off to the local hardware store. If you don't have a good, local old school hardware store near you, I am so sorry. They are getting hard to find, but are truly indispensable.
$2.07 later, I was leaving Oceanway Hardware with a small brown bag full of possibilities. What I ended up using was one small nylon spacer, a nylon bushing sleeve that fit inside the spacer and over the cable end and a small e-clip. These parts totaled $0.79. I left the remains of the original bushing in place after trimming it flush. Then I trimmed the nylon spacer and sleeve down enough to give the e-clip room. Went together nicely and feels pretty solid. Even if it fails, I have the parts to remake it with a 10-32 socket head bolt and washer instead of a the e-clip. I submit this as a contender for the cheapest Corvette repair ever to make an undriveable car driveable. Thanks for steering me in the right direction
