So its not the shifter, I remove the cable that is on the left of the shifter (one with the cotter pin) and the shifter moves back to the middle automatically as it should. This tells me its either that cable (which goes to the top post on the transmission (small bushing) or its something on the transmission. If I remove the cable from the top post on the transmission, and push the post (which is on the arm) to the left or the right it stays to whatever side i push it to, it doesn't go back to the middle. Is it supposed to do this? If not, what could be holding this up?

 

I'm having the exact same problem, It has to be some type of corrosion somewhere because it only happens if I let the car sit for a week or so.

 

I used pb blaster to spray down the transmission arm (where the bushings sit, not the actual bushings just the arm where it bends) and the rod that moves in and out. Not sure what this rod is for, but i can see the shiny metal rod. Not sure if i should be able to or if this should be hidden by the boot/cover. I took some pics and will post them. Also thinking about lubricating that rod.

 

I'm still having this issue. Has anyone found a fix for this yet?

 

The ring/arm that goes over the bushing is bent...

Locked out 3rd gear on the 5 speed and/or the shifter stuck to the left? When I installed some buschur underhood bushings on a friends car, the c-clip didn't want to go into the groove on the left side (standing in front of the car) of the smaller bushing; no matter how you rotated the bushing. The left side appeared to be slightly higher than the right on the ring/arm(twisted clockwise), so I slightly twisted it counter clockwise. Bushing went on, the ring fell into place, and the c-clip went in no problemo.

 

pops out of gear:
check:
worn dog teeth/sleeve=backtapper
fork
trans mounts worn
endplay/bad bearing

 

Yes i am having both these issues.

Awesome, ill check this 2 moro, thanks. How did you twist the end of the cable? Pliers? Or was easy enough to do with your hands?

 

Yes I did it with my hands. Did you have a slight issue getting the tip of the c-clip to go in on one of the sides?

 

So grabbed the cable by the ring and turned the cable counter clockwise a few times, then put it back onto the bushing. The shifter would then move back to the middle automatically when I moved it left or right. All seemed to be fixed. I drove the car around the city on my way to work and it was working good. I then got on the highway for 10 minutes or so, and was driving in 5th gear. When I got off the highway I noticed the issue was back and it was no longer returning to the middle. I don't know if maybe having it in 5th gear stretched/moved the cable back the other way? or just after a certain amount of time the cable went back to the way it was?? Could i possibly take the c-clip of that holds the cable, turn the cable slightly and put the c-clip back on? or will the c-clip only go on a certain way>?

 

It is possible that you didn't bend it enough.

Wait, you turned the cable? As in rotated it? Or bent it?

 

I rotated it/bent it I think? I didnt rotate it and put it on the post like that though. I just rotated it counter clock wise about 360 degrees then let it go (did this a few times). How should i be bending it?

 

Give me a few min, I'll do up a ghetto drawing in paint.

 

Pardon the drawing that looks like a 3 year old did it, did it in a hurry. This is what I did, I set the right end of the ring on the base, but still left of the post on which it and the bushing sits on, and pushed down right where the ring and boot/cable meet. This twisted them back into place. After, I put the bushing on the post, slid the ring over, and both tips of the c-clip went in like butter. And of course put the little cotter pin on at the end.

 

Hahaha great drawing, thanks for taking the time to do it. It makes much more sense now, i'll give it a try.

 

I have been having this same problem and now it is getting really bad. I took the shifter cable off the trans and moved the shift linkage on the trans and it stays to either way. Its either something in the trans or that shifter linkage on the trans itself. Any updates?