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I have a Saturn SC2 (1995) manual transmission car. I was teaching my brother-in-law how to drive "stick". After a couple of stalls, he got the hang of it and we proceeded to a main road. He had just finished shifting to third gear and found that he could not shift to fourth. It was stuck in third - couldnt go to any other gear - could push the stick up and down, but would always return to the middle and stay in third gear. Even after stopping the car and starting, the gear stayed engaged (maybe it is stuck in second gear, not sure). Tried again this morning - clutch feels fine, car starts, however, car will not engage in any gear. Any thoughts as to what is wrong and any easy ways to fix it?

Submitted: 495 days and 16 hours ago.

Category: Car

Value: $9

Status: AWAITING CUSTOMER ACTION

Optional Information:
1995 Saturn sc2 manual

Already Tried:
nothing

Accepted Answer

See if you could determine if the linkage is moving between the shifter and the transmission. Maybe the shifter is moving, but your linkage disconnected, not allowing you to make the changes at transmission. Remove the consold or shifter boot cover to view the linkage inside the car. Move the shifter and inspect the shift cables, if they appear working and connected, go the where they end at the trans, and do the same, have someone move the shifter and look for corresponding movement. If not, you broke a shift cable. Let me know if you need more help.
Ivan

Accepts:
Expert:	Ivan
Pos. Feedback:	99.2 %
Answered:	7/13/2008

ASE Technician

ASE Tech w/ 18 years in the field. Self employed for 9 years. Member of AUTOLAB radio show.

495 days and 8 hours ago.

Reply

Ivan,

The shifter does not move to the left or the right. Feels as if the cable is dis-engaged - just moves to the middle and down (to fourth) - if you let go, it goes back to middle.

- R

Posted by Ivan 495 days and 7 hours ago.

Answer

Find where the cables attach to the shifter below the shifter boot. Disconnect them and see if the shifter gives you a full range of motion. Then disconnect the cables where they attach to the trans. Grab each cable and see if they move free back and forth. If one doesn't, you have a siezed cable. Check it and let me know what you find.

495 days and 6 hours ago.

Reply

Ivan,

Made considerable progress - noticed that the metal rod (sorry i cant be more technical) attached to the transmission appeared stuck - forced the gear shift (with clutch down) and it finally popped into a gear - all gears appear to work.

Took it for a drive - turns out that 2nd and 4th gears dont engage - 1st, 3rd and 5th engage and drive fine. It looks like all the gears that require the gear shift to be pushed down don't get engaged.

what do you think?

Posted by Ivan 495 days ago.

Answer

That rod the shifts, moves in 2 positions, try to push it the opposite way and see what happens. Also, verify the shift cables are intact by disconnecting them and sliding them. Let me know what happens.

494 days and 18 hours ago.

Reply

Ivan,

If I pull the rod (on the transmission side) towards me, the gear shift goes into fourth gear. If i push it away from me, the gear shift goes into third gear. I had my wife sit in the car seat and shift gears - when she shifts to third, the rod goes away from me and engages in third gear. when she shifts to fourth, the rod comes half way, but doesnt engage in fourth. if i then pull the rod towards me, the gear goes into fourth, and my wife can feel the stick shift go into fourth and stay there. it seems like the cable cant push the rod far enough to engage fourth gear.

Posted by Ivan 494 days and 16 hours ago.

Answer

Usually, the shifts are done in combinations between the 2 shift cables. 1st is one combination, 2 another and so on. Check all the linkage between that point on the shifter and on the trans. Maybe you have a worn bushing or excess play in the linkage that is not allowing enough reach. Have your wife move the shifter slightly back and forth and follow the linkage, looking for excess play.

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Optional Information: 1995 Saturn sc2 manualAlready Tried: nothing

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Ivan, The shifter does not move to the left or the right. Feels as if the cable is dis-engaged - just moves to the middle and down (to fourth) - if you let go, it goes back to middle. - R

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Answer

That rod the shifts, moves in 2 positions, try to push it the opposite way and see what happens. Also, verify the shift cables are intact by disconnecting them and sliding them. Let me know what happens.

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Related Car Questions

Optional Information:
1995 Saturn sc2 manual

Already Tried:
nothing

Ivan,

The shifter does not move to the left or the right. Feels as if the cable is dis-engaged - just moves to the middle and down (to fourth) - if you let go, it goes back to middle.

- R