Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle loose shifter = install Focus tower?

My shifter suddenly has excessive play front to back, probably 1" or more while in neutral. The torx bolts are tight. The bottom cable slides freely in and out of the sleeve. As of now all gears are available. From what I've read there is probably something awry in the shifter tower, does that seem a plausible explanation? Will the new Focus tower solve the problem?

What has become of the issue involving the smaller round cable ends and larger square cable ends? SVT ST PETE linky Bill Jenkins linky From Pete's post it seems that the square/rectangular ends are from 98 SVT's and Foci but are now discontinued? Me =

Anyone have a parts list/numbers together for doing this?

I have a lot of parts from the Contour shifter tower if you can diagnose which parts you need. I had similar problems with mine after installing the Steeda short shifter and ended up buying an entire new unit to replace that small white piece of plastic ont he side of the tower.

I had no problems with the Focus clamps on my 98.5 CSVT....

Maybe this can help you out a little. It will at least give you something else to go on, for now.

As for the Focus Shift tower issue, I would look to see if you have the square/rectangle ends before you started ordering parts.

The slack appears to be caused by a faulty bushing outside the tower.



How do you get down there to remove that bushing from the cable?

It looks like all I might need is one of the ends for the cable but I can't verify until I get in there. Nor can I tell if I have the older squarish style cables or if I have the newer round ones.

no suggestions on how to get to the shifter cables? pretty please?

Easiest way I could do it:
(Do it when engine is cold, it can be a tight fit and you don't want to get burned)

1. Jack up driver side (use jackstands)
2. Remove wheel
3. Remove splash shield
4. Remove wheel well liners
5. Open hood to allow for some light

It's a lot of work, but I had to mess with the cable ends a lot, so I needed the room.

The end result of the Focus Shift Tower situation:
- Check your cable ends befor buying the Focus Shift Tower & cable ends
- The "older" 98/98.5 cables & ends are compeltely different than the later 99/00 "revised" () cables & ends
- The "older" 98/98.5 cable ends are almsot identical to the Focus cable ends

See my post for pics

I'm still searching for 98/98.5 square cable ends.
Bill looked everywhere he could for them and found nothing.

You'll know which cables & ends you have once you can clearly see them. The "revised" ones are much flatter, whereas the 98/98.5 cable ends are much fatter.

HTH

Thanks SVT ST PETE!

No problem.

One additional thing of importance:

If you take off the cable end(s), do not assume you are done.

Get into the car and try shifting through each gear. You may need to adjust the position of the cable ends to achieve optimal shift points.

Once you have determined shifting is all good, then button it all back up.