Manual Transmission Troubles

[Toother1321]

Well here goes for my second post....First I would like to say I've loved reading these forums and I am super excited about becoming an active member. I've always wanted a small autocross car since I sold my first car, an MG Midget, when I was 20. Well, My wife bought me a 2003 zx3 for 600 bucks as a project car for my 28th birthday, and I am super excited about it. It is an INCREDIBLY fun car to drive, and I can't wait to really get down and dirty with it.

Now to the problem...

Today after working out I got in the car to leave the gym, and I could not shift it into reverse. Instead the car would go into 4th gear when I pulled it down into the reverse. I pushed it out of the space and went on my way. I began to notice that it seemed like the whole shift pattern had shifted to the right. 3rd became 1st, 4th became 2nd, and I couldn't even get into 5th. Long story short by the time I got to my garage I could only shift into 1st and 2nd, all the way on the right side of the pattern, and when in neutral the shifter won't wiggle at all. My best guess is that there is something wrong with the linkage, or that the cables need to be adjusted. Does anyone have any other suggestions before I get my hands all greased up tomorrow????

Thanks,

Steve

[Elizabeth]

The cables at the transmission have slipped loose.
The shifter cable may be stripped at the tranny, OR the cable is just loose.
My bet is on the cable end stripped., or the cable has broken/come apart internally.
It may be at the shifter end too.
NOT gonna be inside the tranny.

[05focusST91]

Check if the cable popped out of the bracket, it can be resecured but it will poo back out, replace the cables the new ones are spring loaded.

[Toother1321]

got under the hood this AM. Definitely a cable issue at the trans.

Thanks guys!!