Been doing research on releated shift issues and am aware of our cars propensity to dump shift cables
Patient is an 07 base 5 speed with 42K on the ticker. The shift action has always been a bit vague to me, but up until the last week pretty smooth.
I don't think its the gears nor clutch: no issues with getting into gears (bit notchy 1/2, OEM fluid changed last year, its fine).
2-3 is a bit off but since you have to go 'over' you typically will get it fine. 3-4 is strait shot, butter smooth along with 4-5.
Biggest change has been the 4-3 down shift. It should also be a relative direct shot but this is where it hits mechanical resistance and puts up a fight. Normally you can do this with 2 fingers, its not hard. Now you either have to man handle it, or move it a bit to the left towards first to get it to agree that yes I want to go to 3rd gear.
Have not yet seen any postings related to a third gear problem here.
Logic says, grab alignment tool and check alignment. Could be cables. Also worn bushings. Devil on shoulder then goes: grab OEM SSK, most rave about it anyway.
I'm not the only driver however and and a SSK may not be everyones cup of tea, specifically my wife and its an expensive mistake to make.
So I'm struggling a bit here, but leaning towards trying the adjuster and see what happens.
Want to share, see if anyone has experienced this or has other tips.
Thanks for reading,
- b
IIRC, shifting straight forward fourth into third just actuates the left cable at the transmission. This is apparently the side that tends to break.
So I would start by getting under there and inspecting the cable.
Interesting. I have not seen too many (well none
) threads on failing cables and symptoms: its all my cable snapped! type of threads. I can certainly get under it, have the tools and such but other then pulling the tails off and tugging to see if its snapped...not sure what else to be looking for.
The logic in me says if its not a common issue to go out of alignment over time, then something else is up so I concur with your suggestion on that front, just trying to figure out and be prepared. I actually do have an extended warranty that if the cables were bad/snapped likely would be covered but that requires me to have it fail (and I can't drive it) or take it to shop/dealer and have them diagnose it as failing...catch 22 there
- b
The cause may reveal itself very soon. I once had a clutch cable snap. I was not surprised, since I had noticed a distinct change in the pedal feel a few days earlier.
In reading past posts, some folks have been able to catch it before it completely failed buy looking for fraying at the transmission end where the cable exits the sheath. That's pretty easy to do so it's probably where I'd start.
