I have a 99 SL2 5 speed with less than 100k on it. I've not had any notable problems for the life of the car, unusual noises, leaks, or anything that would lead me to believe that I had a problem.

Driving home today, I was slowing down to stop at a light when the light changed and I pushed the clutch to change gears. The clutch engaged, but when I tried to shift there was ... nothing. I did not feel anything engaging when I attempted to shift and the engine just rev'd. It felt like I was stirring air under the gearshift.

At the time, I could not investigate because I was in a hurry to get home and get on to an event for my daughter, so my wife came and picked me up. Luckily, or maybe not, I was at a busy intersection around the corner from home and was able to get some help pushing into a gas station parking space. I've made arrangements to have it towed in the morning, but I have a couple of questions.

Is it a transmission problem? I've not had any slipping and the clutch did have tension when I pushed on it ... there was simply nothing to move the stick into.

What does it sound like it probably is?

How much am I probably going to pay to get it fixed (parts, labor)?

Thank you in advance for your input.

Dave

 

I'm pretty certain that a slipping clutch is not your problem. Most likely shift cables, but I'll make way for the experts in here to diagnose your problem at length ...........

 

likely the shifter bushing that holds the cables on the shifter has failed.

2 solutions

a) new shifter cables. Get OEM -- aftermarket ones SUCK
b) go on internet and buy a replacement bushing or a solution -- there are a few out there

 

Thank you for the posts. Unfortunately, I was not in a position to order a bushing and fix it myself and ended up with the big bill for the cables.

And this evening, the gear shift fell out again. In talking with the mechanic on the phone after my wife picked me up, he said it's possible that the clips that hold the cable going into the engine may have come loose. If it's not those, he's going to pay for the tow back to his garage.

My question for the board is that if it's not the clips, are there any other components I can check (pictures on the web?) when I return to the car in the morning to diagnose the clips? If it's an easy pull to access the bushing, I've read in some posts and wire ties would suffice to allow me to limp along if I have to replace the bushing again.

While I'm hopeful that the mechanic would take care of it or that it's something as easy as the clips, what if it's not? What is the general guideline on parts that fail out-of-the-box? I got the car from the shop on Monday and it went out again on Wednesday .... I have only put about 20 miles on the car in the interim. Or are parts even exchanged in such a manner?

Thanks in advance.
Dave

 

The same thing happened to me, but mine is stuck in R. Would this also be the cables/clips? I want to know what to tell the mechanic.

 

are you both using aftermarket or OEM replacement cables?
Per above post -- GO OEM