I just turned 67k miles and I currently only have 3rd gear to drive on. I just getting on 40 on the way home from STL the other night and noticed I had a little trouble finding 5th. I stopped at a stoplight when I got off the highway and found myself fishing for a gear? Not only that, but while I was in gear, I could move the stick anywhere I wanted. I dropped my girlfriend off, and pushed my car out of her driveway ( no I don't have reverse either) and proceeded home in only 3rd gear. I got home just about 20 minutes ago, dissassembled the center consol to find my linkage had pretty well shot apart. The spring, bering and bolt assembly holding the linkage together was nowhere to be found. I searched, found it and am now in the process of fitting it back together. This wouldn't be that bad, but I need to be up at 5 in the morning for work and I would really just like to go to bed. Anyways, I'm going to try and finish this. Just a rant.

 

That's a first. Pictures?

 

unfortunatly no, I didn't have a camera on me and was more worried about getting it back together before I had to get up in the morning.

 

I'm having a hard time picturing what broke. Was it where the red arrow is pointing?

 

Similar deal happened to me in a 1.3L FIAT we had in Venezuela back in 98, was a bit to quick and harsh during a 3 point turn then suddenly - no gears. I could move the gear shift 360. Was just the connection to the linkage that had popped off and my cousin and the guys he worked with had it back together in no time (before Dad got home- as such I am alive and able to post today) - hopefully its just something like and you'll be driving fine in no time without much expense!

 

It's almost exactly where the red arrow is pointing. There is a spring that is held to the shift lever by a bolt. the bolt shot apart the spring came off and the bering assembly came undone. big mess, but it's fixed for now.

 

Wow that is a big bolt to have break, since it's not like there is any force there really.

 

I think he meant the nut spun off, not that the bolt broke. Throw some locktite on it so it doesn't happen again

 

yea the nut just unscrewed. It'd be pretty screwed up if the thing broke.