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njk1

CEG'er
Joined
Oct 12, 2006
Messages
423
Location
Rochester NY
Ok ive been searching but cant find my answer... i was just driving and i went to downshift into second so i can make a turn onto my aunts street, when i put it in second it felt like it slid in too easy, turns out it didnt shift at all....so ive been reading about the shift tower bolt... my question is, is that only on the svt or is it the same thing for the trans on a pre98 zetec MTX??

I went under the car and had my buddy move the shifter which is floppy and cant find a gear, and the rod that goes from the shifter to the trans(shift linkage:shrug: ) is hooked up and moving in and out like it should... so is there anything else that could be the problem other than the shift tower bolt? if thats apllicable for the trans

Thanks in advance, and sorry for such long post....
-Nick-
 
i dont believe thats a problem on the pre98s because of the rod shift.

does the shifter just move in a big circle? or do you still have "gates"?

one thing you can try is unplug the reverse switch on the top of the trans. there should then be 2 small torx bits holding the plastic piece onto the shift tower. remove those and carefully remove the reverse indicator switch. if you look inside (you may have to use a mirror) you should see a little pin sticking out of a vertical shaft. have someone move the shifter and see if that pin moves. if it does then you most likely broke something inside the trans (although i dont know what as these trans' are pretty damn sturdy). if it doesnt move but the rod under the car does then you probably (somehow) popped the ball on the end of the rod out of the shift tower shaft. either way you are probably going to have to dig into the trans.
 
Ok i am deff. sure that it is the ball on the end of the shift rod... now the fix it question? would i be able to fix the problem and reconnect to the shift tower by removing the shift tower? or will i have to remove the transmission and fix it from there?
 
drain the fluid and pull the shift tower. if your lucky you can fix it in the car. if not then the trans has to come out.
 
Well we thought the shift tower bolt wouldnt be the problem, But guess what....
Shifttower003.jpg


I pulled it apart today and noticed something was missing...looked into the tranny and what do you know half of a bolt. now i have to repair it and the contour should be able to be driven... So now we know that the shift tower bolt is just as bad on the pre98s.... Sorry for the ****ty pic...
 
Well i got the new bolt put it in...went to put the shift tower back on... thought i had everything lined up... but something didnt line up right and it twisted and now its stuck in gear and now i cant get it out of gear to take the shift tower back out:mad:
 
njk1 said:
Well i got the new bolt put it in...went to put the shift tower back on... thought i had everything lined up... but something didnt line up right and it twisted and now its stuck in gear and now i cant get it out of gear to take the shift tower back out:mad:
Click to expand...
i did that too. it sucks. what i ended up doing was unbolting the reverse indicator and inside there is a tang that sticks out that is part of the tower rod. you can take a screwdriver and move it back to the center position and then pull the tower out. just be careful not rip the gasket and you should be able to use it again without any problems as there is little to no trans fluid in it.

if you need pictures i can get some since i have a second trans sitting here.
 
I know exactly what you are talking about, i had the same idea but was affraid that i would break the pin... ill try that tomorrow since i have the day off.... also, whats the easyest way to line the shift tower up putting it back in so the ball and the rod go into there specified positions? (no jokes about balls and rods either:laugh: )
 
honestly its just trial and error. you get one person under the car to hold the rod while you install shift tower. you just have to feel for it. you will know when its right. other than that i cant really give you any tips cause it took me several cursing tries to get it, and then i think it was just luck.
 
OK that might be my first problem... i was trying to install it alone with no one holding the rod... ill try that... asuming i get it out of gear....
 
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