Bought an '03 Vette last fall. A few weeks ago the shift cable broke ... shifter moved freely and I couldn't get it to re-engage. Took it into the best Corvette guy in the area. After a new GM part and 4-5 hrs of labor, he gaveled it fixed. Cost me ~$1,000. A few weeks later, it went out again. Thankfully he made good on the work; replaced it again, no charge. He said it's bad quality parts .. i.e. made in China. My question: has anyone else had this problem? Is there something in the way I'm shifting (4 speed auto) that could be causing the issue? He said no ... the cable works should last 20 years. I'm crossing my fingers it doesn't happen again. I'd have to consider getting rid of the car.
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A GRAND TO DO THIS REPAIR?!?!?!
YIKES!!!
What exactly broke?
From what I have read, it is usually the plastic bushing at each end of the cable that break, causing the cable to disengage from the shifter or the shift lever on the trans.
And, it is heat that makes the plastic bushings fail, and it is especially hot around the trans end of the cable because the exhaust passes so close.
The repair bushings are cheap, and so long as the cable itself isn't broken, may be all that is needed for the fix.
Here is a article from Hot Rod magazine about the repair https://www.hotrod.com/how-to/repair...ic-shift-cable

 

I’ve had mine fail as well due to the nylon grommets. The dealer charged me $200 with new cable so $1000 for your repair was excessive, however I understand the OEM cable is getting harder to obtain and they may now be manufactured in China.

Next time it happens to me, I am going to see if I can fabricate a solution to replace the nylon grommets with aluminum or something more permanent as the actual shifter cable should never fail.

 

My grandmothers friend's vehicle was broken down. A transmisson shop wanted to tow it and get some 1k for repairs.

I said hold on, I will look at it. I went to see the car and the shifter just moves freely, so I take off the cover plate and see the little bushing is missing. It must have broken off from age.

I went to the dealer and picked one up for like $0.72 not even joking. Snapped it back in place with my fingers and fixed the vehicle where it sat for free for her.

There is IMO no way to run an honest transmission shop, they can't make any profit that way. Everything has to be a shady 1k repair for any $0.64 problem.

 

The challenge is that if the shop is not familiar with the C5 transmission cable, they resort to removing it and that usually involves dropping the mid exhaust pipe, removing the tunnel plate and then reaching up to disconnect the cable. For those in the know, unless you performed a hard shift from drive to low, etc., the chances are the cable didn't get damaged and one of the nylon grommets, either at the console shifter or in the rear near the transmission failed, most often due age and becoming brittle due to transmission heat. If it's only the bushings, you can perform the repair without removing the cable.

 

I’m about to tackle mine on my own. Yesterday, the gear selector was loose while in overdrive, had to wiggle it a little to get to neutral and then again in reverse, I have a feeling it’s holding on by a thread. I’ll take apart the console and gear selector to check it out this weekend. I have quickjacks to get under the car if I need to.

 

Check that "How-To" link in my post above, it is pretty good and has part number for different replacement bushings for the cable.

 

A dealership wants these days $1,200.00 to do the job, if you watch u-tube looks easy, but if you are not mechanical don't try it, and have way lifting the car.

 

This is normal and expected. $1,000 is outrageous highway robbery. There is a cable with a bushing on each end. One end over the shifter, cable and other end over the transmission connector. (Transmission is in the rear). The cable rarely brakes. One end or the other falls off, due to wear or bushing warping. It's so simple and cheap. The shop completely replaced my cable and both slip on bushings for around $400.00. No need to bother anything inside the vehicle. They had to remove an exhaust piece and thsts a good part of the fee, but quick easy done. Again it's very normal. (I chose to have all 3 parts replaced)

 

Two complete cables in two weeks is very odd.
I would have asked to see the part he replaced after the first time and the second time.
The 1k is about $400.00 more than most would have charged, including a well-known Vettedoctors by me who performed this on my brother's car last year.
Just doesnt make sense, and for the money he charges, he could afford to do it a third time for free lol

 

Here is the deal. Did the cable fail or just the nylon couplers? If just the couplers yes it is a much easier fix but you still have to remove the console and other bits to get to the shifter end.

If the cable broke and few ever do you have to remove much below to get to the cable unless you can snake the new one through.

As for the shop they can do just the bushings but then if the cable goes then they will have to redo the job. They don't want come backs. Also if they are a Corvette shop they are generally going to do the cable.

This is where you tube and some practical skills come into play and you can just change the bushings and save a ton of money. If the cable breaks then it is on you later. You can then do it.
Youtube is loaded with how to do both.

Now what is going on with many shops are they are struggling. High cost of labor and high cost of tools and technology to be able to plug in and diagnose cars is even higher. My buddy pays near $20K for just computer info so he can plug in and check and tune cars with his tech tools. He used to do a lot of tire work and fixed flats but anymore they are only wanting big jobs like engine swaps or more major work. It pays well vs a tire repair is not a real money maker anymore.

Couple this with the fact we no longer have gas stations that used to do all the tire works. Oil changes with to corner oil change places.

Sadly the cost of repairing a car has really gone up.

Just trying to hire a good tech is so very difficult as most can name their price when it comes to pay.

We have cars that are generally easy to work on and if you are not yet wrenching you may want to start. Not only will it save you money but you will better know more about your car.

 

My full cable including bushings (couplers) were replaced from underneath.

 

I installed new shifter cable, AC Delco # 12561688 – amazon $68 2 yrs & 20k miles ago. No issue since.

 

Great points. He took me under the car and pointed to the issue but yes I should have asked for the part. Will do next time. Not sure exactly what went bad .... I think he said the socket on a ball and socket type connection.

 

Thx - good to know.

 

Great points. He took me under the car and pointed to the issue but yes I should have asked for the part. Will do next time. Not sure exactly what went bad .... I think he said the socket on a ball and socket type connection.

 

Labor rate $185/hr. 4-5 hours labor. Yes part is minimal in comparison to labor. There's your $1000!

 

Good points ... and I will consider same if happens again. PS - it was 4-5 hrs of labor at $185 per. Gets to $100o fast.

 

They had to pull stuff from underneath to get to the issue. 4-5 hrs labor at @$185. And I think it was one of the end works (plastic, one of the mechanics said) - not cable itself. Works like ball and socket said the head guy. I'm a bit confused too as I have heard others getting to the work via the inside console, which would probably be quicker/cheaper. I will raise that issue if it were to happen again. (Fingers crossed.)

 

Look at that Hot Rod magazine article I linked in my comment, that will show you about going through the console and tunnel floor, and shows those plastic inserts for the lever ball that they snap over.
IMO that job should have only been half or less than what they charged you.