Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle Snapped cables?

So today Im sittin at a red light and it turns green. I have it in first and I have the clutch right where it engages and it pops outta first. This isnt really surprising cause its been doin this off and on for maybe a couple weeks now and Im thinkin of when I can take it in to Ford. I go to put it in first and it wont engage. Drop back to 2nd, same thing. Luckily I had 2 buds with mine so we pushed it to the side of the road. It was towed down to Ford today so it wont get looked at until monday at the earliest. The shifter moves freely all over the place. I'm 99% sure its not the clutch cause it wont even go into the gears, it stays in neutral. Did I snap the cables in the shifter??? Thats the only logical thing I can think of. Cause even when the diff. goes, it engages in gear, it just doesnt move. Anyone have any input on this?
><>David<><

Being as you state you can free move the shifter and not engage any gears:

I would check the linkage at the bottom of the shifter.

It is possible you did break both parts of the forward & back cable. (there are two 2 piece cables in the unit - it's replaced as a whole assembly) Though it is more common to only break one direction (as you never get a chance to break the other)

Honestly I am surprised to not hear of more cable failures. Especially considering the number of people online using short throw shifters & also how many people claim to be power shifters.

check the cables on the back of the tranny, i lost a clip and grommet off my trans and it wouldnt shift into 1st 2nd 5th and reverse, dont feel bad cause i was 30 miles from home and i was sorta by myself.

it's the cables, happened to mine at 15k, ford replaced everything under warranty. . .apparently they were reubbing on something and snapped??? what are you going to do, hope it's under warranty. . . .

What the [censored]...Would these cables be called clutch cables by any chance? Thats what Ford is claiming it is. I thought it was strictly tranny related and didnt interact with the clutch. The warranty company is saying they wont cover it because its a "clutch" cable. The clutch is fine...they wont even touch that, its just the clutch cable. Please help with some insight on this one...
><>David<><

Happend to my 99 Cougar as well around 23K miles. However, my problem wasn't the cable breaking at the tower, it was the linkage into the tranny that sheered the retaining bolt

Attempts to "fish" it out at the dealer failed and they had to drop the tranny and "rebuild" it (replace all seals) because the bolt end was at the bottom of the gear box housing. Luckily, no hard-parts where damaged. However, if it had been out of pocket, the cost would have been roughly $1,200 ... covered under warranty THANK GOD!!!

As per Terry, when this same thing happened to me..

I broke the Shifter linkage, located in the shift tower.. I sheared the bolt, at the head..

It cost me $75 for a remanufactured one from Terry, shipped.

And $200 to install it, in labor..

No probs for me, now. (Just make sure you either get the same toer (older, non-revised.. so your reverse lights will still work.. OR get the upgraded, stronger 99+ tower, and be sure to get the cable that makes it work with your reverse lights, too.. Ask Terry..

secondline@ameritech.net


HTH
Ray