Need help asap before dealership
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Need help asap before dealership
2008 Auto: Short story. Last night I drove about 2 miles to Subway. I went in and got what I needed & when I started my car & put it in reverse it did not move, so I tried all gears and nothing. No gears would engage. The shifter moves like it is not connected to anything. I left it there & got a taxi home. The years I've been on this forum I have not heard of this problem....Any help would be much appreciated. Thanks........................ 
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
Best bet,
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Best bet,
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 877
Likes: 102
From: TX Hill Country
Best bet,
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Shifter cable snapped, the shifter itself went south, or the linkage.
Write up if it's just the linkage.
https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...with-pics.html
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
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Start with pulling the shift cable and see what is wrong with it.
If the problem is the inner ridge loop grommet that has worn out and why the cable end is popping off, then yes, you should be able to go any auto parts store to look in the aftermarket clip selection isle to find a replacement grommet in the correct size to replace the worn grommet on the cable end loops.
Here is the factory cable, and as you can see the ends have loop grommets that can be removed if the inner ridge section has worn out, and then the above type grommets use to replace them.
Or, since the shift cable is only $40, just order a new cable and save the time and effort of having to shop for the needed grommet and replacing it in the old cable.
Myself, if it was just the grommet center ridge that was worn down, have the needed tooling to just heat up the plastic grommet to reform the inner ridge instead.
If the problem is the inner ridge loop grommet that has worn out and why the cable end is popping off, then yes, you should be able to go any auto parts store to look in the aftermarket clip selection isle to find a replacement grommet in the correct size to replace the worn grommet on the cable end loops.
Here is the factory cable, and as you can see the ends have loop grommets that can be removed if the inner ridge section has worn out, and then the above type grommets use to replace them.
Or, since the shift cable is only $40, just order a new cable and save the time and effort of having to shop for the needed grommet and replacing it in the old cable.
Myself, if it was just the grommet center ridge that was worn down, have the needed tooling to just heat up the plastic grommet to reform the inner ridge instead.
Last edited by Dano523; Jun 20, 2015 at 03:18 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 877
Likes: 102
From: TX Hill Country
Cherokee Nation, did you ever determine the cause of your problem? How many miles on your car? I have a 2008 also, so I'm curious.
Dano, do you think this might be a PM type item since it's only $40?
Dano, do you think this might be a PM type item since it's only $40?
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Pro
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 534
Likes: 33
From: Southern cali
I had it towed to the dealer from where it quit. (Sorry Now That I Did) The dealer ordered a cable for it without even looking at it & that was last Thursday. They think it snapped,,BS"..I don't know how they are going to get it to a service bay when it is stuck in PARK & sitting in back of the lot?? I have 68000 miles on it PDs Vettes;........
Over time the C6 shifter unit does fail -- the first symptoms are intermittent "harder than normal" shifting in reverse ( will not happen all the time -- many just think it is because of how they parked or it is the weather ) ... eventually it will progress to a point it will take several tries to get the shifter to engage... then finally total failure. The cable is frequently damaged because the driver forces the shifter to engage....
The shifter unfortunately cannot be repaired and when it fails, much be replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 14,062
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From: Henderson Nv-Rohnert Park/Sonoma C o. ca/born in NY Rockaway Beach.
I had it towed to the dealer from where it quit. (Sorry Now That I Did) The dealer ordered a cable for it without even looking at it & that was last Thursday. They think it snapped,,BS"..I don't know how they are going to get it to a service bay when it is stuck in PARK & sitting in back of the lot?? I have 68000 miles on it PDs Vettes;........
Think it cost me about 250 out the door... And my dealer had my car delivered to me 1.5 hours away ..... Good to have a great relation ship with your dealer....
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
Did you by any chance have your shifter "stick" or would not engage anytime before this happened?
Over time the C6 shifter unit does fail -- the first symptoms are intermittent "harder than normal" shifting in reverse ( will not happen all the time -- many just think it is because of how they parked or it is the weather ) ... eventually it will progress to a point it will take several tries to get the shifter to engage... then finally total failure. The cable is frequently damaged because the driver forces the shifter to engage....
The shifter unfortunately cannot be repaired and when it fails, much be replaced.
Over time the C6 shifter unit does fail -- the first symptoms are intermittent "harder than normal" shifting in reverse ( will not happen all the time -- many just think it is because of how they parked or it is the weather ) ... eventually it will progress to a point it will take several tries to get the shifter to engage... then finally total failure. The cable is frequently damaged because the driver forces the shifter to engage....
The shifter unfortunately cannot be repaired and when it fails, much be replaced.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2013
Posts: 12,502
Likes: 3,629
With the age of the car, would bank that it was one of the end of cable grommets that when south, and the cable popped off the end point shafts for the cable.
Really, it comes down to three parts.
The mostly plastic part shifter assembly itself, and with age and the heat in the torque tube tunnel, the plastic parts in it can go brittle and fail.
The cable, and again with the heat in the torque tube tunnel, plastic end pieces on the cable go brittle and snap.
The trans itself, with the shift linkage inside the trans going south instead.
If you want to weed out the first two, just get under the car and shift the shifter to see if the trans linkage shift shaft on the side of the trans is moving or not.
Really, it comes down to three parts.
The mostly plastic part shifter assembly itself, and with age and the heat in the torque tube tunnel, the plastic parts in it can go brittle and fail.
The cable, and again with the heat in the torque tube tunnel, plastic end pieces on the cable go brittle and snap.
The trans itself, with the shift linkage inside the trans going south instead.
If you want to weed out the first two, just get under the car and shift the shifter to see if the trans linkage shift shaft on the side of the trans is moving or not.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,457
Likes: 297
From: corpus christi Texas
With the age of the car, would bank that it was one of the end of cable grommets that when south, and the cable popped off the end point shafts for the cable.
Really, it comes down to three parts.
The mostly plastic part shifter assembly itself, and with age and the heat in the torque tube tunnel, the plastic parts in it can go brittle and fail.
The cable, and again with the heat in the torque tube tunnel, plastic end pieces on the cable go brittle and snap.
The trans itself, with the shift linkage inside the trans going south instead.
If you want to weed out the first two, just get under the car and shift the shifter to see if the trans linkage shift shaft on the side of the trans is moving or not.
Really, it comes down to three parts.
The mostly plastic part shifter assembly itself, and with age and the heat in the torque tube tunnel, the plastic parts in it can go brittle and fail.
The cable, and again with the heat in the torque tube tunnel, plastic end pieces on the cable go brittle and snap.
The trans itself, with the shift linkage inside the trans going south instead.
If you want to weed out the first two, just get under the car and shift the shifter to see if the trans linkage shift shaft on the side of the trans is moving or not.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 2,106
From: Peoria/Phoenix AZ
C6 of Year Finalist (performance mods) 2019
It's quite possible, but unlikely, that the nut that holds the lever on the transmission backed off and the lever fell off. Fix time 1 minute labor, zero parts.
There's also a clip on the cable at the trans end for adjustment that could have popped off and allowed the cable to become disconnected. Fix time 1 minute labor, $.29 part most places or $16 at a dealer.
However, with all the continuous manual shifting, I'd suspect other parts.
Those taco joints and Subways are hard on shifters. You either need a driver mod or different food choices.
There's also a clip on the cable at the trans end for adjustment that could have popped off and allowed the cable to become disconnected. Fix time 1 minute labor, $.29 part most places or $16 at a dealer.
However, with all the continuous manual shifting, I'd suspect other parts.
Those taco joints and Subways are hard on shifters. You either need a driver mod or different food choices.