Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting MTX Transmission Froze in 3rd...Help Quick

Driving to a buddies last night, I quickly downshifted from 4 to 3rd to make a light. When I tried to upshift out of 3rd....no go. The shifter feels like it is disconnected and the car will not shift from 3rd. Took the center console off and examined the visible linkage. everything appears okay...but the linkage that connects on the passenger side of the shifter will not budge. The main linkage that attaches at the bottem of the shifter appears to move freely and I can reach in from the engine compartment and seemingly shift the trans where it connects to the main linkage. Clutch seems fine. I'm worried about taking this in to the dealer as I have a B&M shifter (I will hafta switch it out I guess) Any Ideas on what may be the problem? Please, Please help quickly.

I had the same thing happen to me, but the welds on the B&M shifter cable had given in. If you dont mind bringing your car to Grand Rapids, I am sure Terry Haines will take care of it for you.

Mine did the same thing, however a bolt had broken inside the tranny. You said it felt like the shifter was disconnected from the tranny. Do you mean that you can't feel any of the gate's? That's what mine was like, no gate's no nothing just stuck in third. Hope this isn't your case though, but if it's still under warranty, Ford should pay for it.
Could also be the shift cable broke. Just my two cents.
Mike

yeah, no gates, the shifter just flops around, it will go into other gears if I really screw with it, but it does feel as if something just let loose. I wasn't even into that hard when it broke...for once. I inspected the shifter and cables that I could see and they look good. I am a little worried about the warranty work because of my mods and I don't wanna get any warranties invalidated. I'm a 6'1" 230 lb scardey cat...what can I say.

ttt

help....help....help....help

3 words: hammer, nails, and a 2 x 4
Make yourself a new one
Have you tried blunt force, mabee it's just cought on something???

Check the plastic peice on the right side of the shifter and make sure its on correctly and tightly around the metal ball. When I removed my centering spring this peice slipped off the end of the ball and my shifter did exactly what you described.

Sounds like you have bent the interlock gate in the shifter tower,this is common.If the car has warranty get it in,if not you need to disconnect the cables and unbolt the tower from the top of the trans,in some cases the head of the bolt that holds the interlock gate shears off and drops into the trans!!1.If you find the interlock gate is bent replace it with the 2000+ assy,but get the broken head out of the trans first!..PM me if you need more info...TH