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Broken shift linkage

Old Jul 31, 2023 | 06:51 PM
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Default Broken shift linkage

Automatic C5 stuck in Drive. It appears the shifter linkage has broken. Has anyone had this problem? Also can the car be hand pushed out of garage to flatbed to dealership? Reminder, it is stuck in Drive. Thank you

Last edited by officehound; Jul 31, 2023 at 07:17 PM.
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Old Jul 31, 2023 | 07:38 PM
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Does the shifter move at all or is it too stuck. Could just be the cable bushing. There are two of them, one at the shifter and one on the side of the transmission.
This is from my C6. The one with the black mark.

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Old Jul 31, 2023 | 07:48 PM
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I’m worried about this also. How many miles you have on your C5?

You can get under the car by jacking rear then check if the tranny side failed. If yes get a Dorman bushing kit you may be able to fix this yourself. Also you can get the lever back in neutral by flipping the lever one notch forward if you are in drive — if the bushing is on cable then this means shifter side broke.

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Old Jul 31, 2023 | 08:02 PM
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Originally Posted by RedC5
I’m worried about this also. How many miles you have on your C5?

If yes get a Dorman bushing kit you may be able to fix this yourself.
That's the kit I posted above
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Old Jul 31, 2023 | 09:07 PM
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Originally Posted by yellow2007
That's the kit I posted above
Yup - gotcha! I also split that bushing one side radially with a hacksaw to make ease of field repair easier to press on. Some other manufacturers actually produce that bushing with a split already in it. They are white.
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Old Jul 31, 2023 | 09:09 PM
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 07:52 AM
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The shifter feels like nothing is attached to it; I can move it back and forth with no resistance. I have 52,000 miles on it. It is stuck in drive so I cannot get into neutral or any other gear. I also cannot start it. It obviously is the shifter cable.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 07:53 AM
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Thanks for the video. I'll have to flatbed it to the local dealership. I do not have the ability to repair this myself.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 08:33 AM
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Originally Posted by officehound
Thanks for the video. I'll have to flatbed it to the local dealership. I do not have the ability to repair this myself.
To have the ability to get it on the truck like I said, they or you can jack up the rear, get under there and flip the tranny lever one notch forward to get it in neutral. Will make it a lot easier to get on the flatbed.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 08:34 AM
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My friends C5, yesterday just had cable break, welcome to the club, my C6 two years ago my cable broke, not cheap repair at dealership?
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 09:53 AM
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I'll find out the cost soon enough.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by officehound
I'll find out the cost soon enough.
Make sure you are sitting down, is all I ask it will be shock!
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 10:14 AM
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Originally Posted by officehound
Automatic C5 stuck in Drive. It appears the shifter linkage has broken. Has anyone had this problem? Also can the car be hand pushed out of garage to flatbed to dealership? Reminder, it is stuck in Drive. Thank you
if you cannot be pushed easily, tell your flatbed driver that the car is stuck in park. I had the same problem with my ‘01 this Saturday. Mine was stuck in park. The AAA driver used dollies that went around the rear tires and were pumped up to allow the car to be pushed.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 10:53 AM
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I thought about using these as well. Thanks
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 11:07 AM
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You will be able to push it easily in any position other than park.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 01:02 PM
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>$1000?
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 01:08 PM
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Cable is around $25 on Amazon. Dealer will probably be 2 or 3 times that. No more than a 2 hour job with a lift.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 01:09 PM
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They can for sure get it on a flatbed. My shift cable broke while the car was in park on a hill. It was a PITA, but they got it on the flatbed without damage. With the car in drive, it should be easy to move as long as you take off the parking brake. If you have an honest mechanic, this can be fixed for a few hundred bucks. Also, even if it just the bushing, and the cable is intact, it is a good idea to go ahead and replace the cable and the bushings. The parts aren't super expensive, and it will prevent this from happening to you again for a long time. Good luck with your repairs.
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 01:42 PM
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Thank you
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Old Aug 1, 2023 | 01:45 PM
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Originally Posted by officehound
Thanks for the video. I'll have to flatbed it to the local dealership. I do not have the ability to repair this myself.
Been there done that but a grand seems a bit much.I was stuck in park. Had to kinda "walk" the vette onto the flatbed. Getting it off the flatbed was like something from a stephen king movie.......


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