Probably shift cable bushing. 2010 auto GS
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
Probably shift cable bushing. 2010 auto GS
Folks,
So I probably have the dreaded broken shift cable bushing. Start it foot on brake shifter moves way too easy but doesn’t put it in gear. Moves from park to s easily but doesn’t engage. I’ve looked at YouTube videos that show the broken bushing at the shifter and the broken plastic piece at the transmission. Is there any way to tell which it is? Can you see the transmission end from under the car? I’m somewhat of a do it yourself guy but am considering spending the $ at the dealer. So is it doable by yourself with a little time? Should you get the bushing from the dealer or I’ve seen part numbers for non oem bushings that work. And it’s in the garage stuck in park. If I go with the dealer how do I get it out of the garage to a flatbed wrecker? So I guess several questions. Does it sound like the bushing at the shifter or the plastic at the transmission? Have you done this yourself and how difficult would you rate it. And how would I get it out of the garage to tow it? One other thing. Is the plastic piece at the transmission replaceable or do you need to replace the whole cable?
Thanks, Dave
So I probably have the dreaded broken shift cable bushing. Start it foot on brake shifter moves way too easy but doesn’t put it in gear. Moves from park to s easily but doesn’t engage. I’ve looked at YouTube videos that show the broken bushing at the shifter and the broken plastic piece at the transmission. Is there any way to tell which it is? Can you see the transmission end from under the car? I’m somewhat of a do it yourself guy but am considering spending the $ at the dealer. So is it doable by yourself with a little time? Should you get the bushing from the dealer or I’ve seen part numbers for non oem bushings that work. And it’s in the garage stuck in park. If I go with the dealer how do I get it out of the garage to a flatbed wrecker? So I guess several questions. Does it sound like the bushing at the shifter or the plastic at the transmission? Have you done this yourself and how difficult would you rate it. And how would I get it out of the garage to tow it? One other thing. Is the plastic piece at the transmission replaceable or do you need to replace the whole cable?
Thanks, Dave
Last edited by ibicycle; Feb 7, 2021 at 05:41 PM.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2020
Posts: 127
Likes: 84
From: Dallas. TX
Good luck to you. I had only had my '05 for about 3 weeks when I took it in to my local dealership to have the oil changed (I had a coupon for a half price oil change). As I sat in the waiting room, I saw people getting in and out of my car, and then, after maybe 20 minutes of that, the service writer came in and asked me if there was any trick to getting the car into gear. He said they couldn't get it to do anything, so I went out and tried the gear shift, and got the same thing, easy to move the lever around, but no go with any movement.
Their "old Corvette mechanic" wasn't there that day, so I had to leave the car. They called the next day to tell me the cable had failed and charged me $550 to change it.
Now every time I get in the car, I'm scared I'm going to experience that again.
Their "old Corvette mechanic" wasn't there that day, so I had to leave the car. They called the next day to tell me the cable had failed and charged me $550 to change it.
Now every time I get in the car, I'm scared I'm going to experience that again.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 769
From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Shifter
This is easy to fix yourself. Dorman bushings #14041 or 14055. Go to you tube, plenty of tutorials on how do do this.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
So I found a YouTube video about console removal on a manual shifter where the shift lever was removed initially. Do I have to and how to remove the automatic shift lever? Anyone have a link to console removal to replace the cable bushing for an automatic?
Thanks, Dave
Thanks, Dave
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
So I found videos on removing the auto shift **** but they also stated that it wasn’t necessary to replace the cable bushing. How can the console be removed with the shift handle and boot intact? As stated before I don’t see any videos start to finish on replacing the bushing showing the auto shifter in place with the shift handle and boot still in place. And yes I’ve been googling . Any link to a comprehensive video would be very appreciated.
Thanks, Dave
.
Thanks, Dave
.
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 4,586
Likes: 1,667
From: Pearland / Houston Tx
Before you do the work of tearing into the console, you want to first jack it up to see if it is broken on the trans end. Mine has failed twice....once on each end.
While under there, you can manually shift it into neutral to roll out of garage. Be careful. Jackstands!
If you flatbed to the dealer, they will not give you the option of bushing only. They will only install a replacement cable
While under there, you can manually shift it into neutral to roll out of garage. Be careful. Jackstands!
If you flatbed to the dealer, they will not give you the option of bushing only. They will only install a replacement cable
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 769
From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
Cable
Obviously console removal is the same. There are four 10 MM bolts that hold the A6 shifter in place. Do NOT lift the shifter up to high if the cable is still connected, you will break the dust cover on the end of the cable. If yours is not connected no problem. Snap new bushing in place and reattach cable end to shifter. Do this with shifter in N. You will have to get under the car and make sure the transmission is also in N. There are 5 positions on the little arm on the left side of the transmission. You want the middle one. I know there are you tube videos on how to do this. Search.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
Thanks for all the replies. Not to beat a dead horse and yes I’ll keep googling, you don’t have to remove the auto shifter handle to pull the console to get to the 4 bolts holding the shifter in to get to the bushing? Also interesting about putting the transmission in neutral during the bushing insertion. Hopefully that would be explained if I ever find a complete video. Any links appreciated and I’ll keep looking. I’m confident I can do this with a good video tutorial. Thanks for the help so far.
Dave
Dave
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Melting Slicks
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 3,299
Likes: 769
From: Mead Wash
2020 C6 of the Year Finalist - Modified
C6 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
If you try to replace the bushing in P then the cable is all the way back. S would be too far forward. Hence N.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 53,774
Likes: 5,623
From: Plantation Florida USAF(Retired) 1966-1990
U.S. Air Force
St. Jude Donor '05 thru '26
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Good luck to you. I had only had my '05 for about 3 weeks when I took it in to my local dealership to have the oil changed (I had a coupon for a half price oil change). As I sat in the waiting room, I saw people getting in and out of my car, and then, after maybe 20 minutes of that, the service writer came in and asked me if there was any trick to getting the car into gear. He said they couldn't get it to do anything, so I went out and tried the gear shift, and got the same thing, easy to move the lever around, but no go with any movement.
Their "old Corvette mechanic" wasn't there that day, so I had to leave the car. They called the next day to tell me the cable had failed and charged me $550 to change it.
Now every time I get in the car, I'm scared I'm going to experience that again.
Their "old Corvette mechanic" wasn't there that day, so I had to leave the car. They called the next day to tell me the cable had failed and charged me $550 to change it.
Now every time I get in the car, I'm scared I'm going to experience that again.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 43
Likes: 4
Eureka !!!
I always figure if I take something apart it may take someone smarter to reassemble it. I proceeded undaunted to pull the surround and the shifter and sure enough the bushing was destroyed. I now know that the surround pulls off leaving the boot on the shifter. A trip to Advanced Auto I got both 14041 and 14055. I ended up using one from 14041. The hardest parts were it took pliers to insert the bushing into the cable end and it took multiple tries to force the shift lever into it. With the car running you can shift the transmission by pulling on the cable. So I did put it in neutral. Then I managed to approximate the two and tried several large screwdrivers to lever it together braced against the torque tube. Ended up using a carpenter pry bar and finally got a satisfying snap. It’s reassembled and working fine . I suppose I should look at the rear but for now that’s another day. So this is my 3rd DIY after replacing a door latch and the dual mode exhaust solenoid. Thanks, for everyone’s help.
Dave
I always figure if I take something apart it may take someone smarter to reassemble it. I proceeded undaunted to pull the surround and the shifter and sure enough the bushing was destroyed. I now know that the surround pulls off leaving the boot on the shifter. A trip to Advanced Auto I got both 14041 and 14055. I ended up using one from 14041. The hardest parts were it took pliers to insert the bushing into the cable end and it took multiple tries to force the shift lever into it. With the car running you can shift the transmission by pulling on the cable. So I did put it in neutral. Then I managed to approximate the two and tried several large screwdrivers to lever it together braced against the torque tube. Ended up using a carpenter pry bar and finally got a satisfying snap. It’s reassembled and working fine . I suppose I should look at the rear but for now that’s another day. So this is my 3rd DIY after replacing a door latch and the dual mode exhaust solenoid. Thanks, for everyone’s help.
Dave
