Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Transaxle How to adjust shifter cables?

Those AutoZone instructions are for the rod style shifter, 95 97 Contique.

I got the new shift end on. What a PITA. I first tried just the bushing, but could not press the bushing into the end while it was on the car. I was able to snatch really hard on the end and get it off the cable, pressed the bushing back into the new end and then filed down the small plastic lip on the end a bit to make getting it back on the cable easier.

I'm working on the suspension right now so I can't get it on the ground yet, but after getting the end on, I shifted through the gears and it would go in every one, but fifth felt sorta hard to get into and moving it around in neutral is sorta clanky where it didn't used to be. I have no idea how a good condition svt shifter is supposed to feel and I have no idea if I didn't mess anything up until I get it back on the ground.

When putting the end on, is it possible to move the gear selector on the tranny and then be in the wrong spot when you put it back together? If so, how do I know what gear/neutral it's in? How should it look? Thanks.

When the weight is straight up and down.

Did the 98 ends last night big PITA. Hands are killing from lack of room. Realized there is a small notch on the cable ends. Have to get the end over it and you have to apply a lot of pressure to do so. When you do this it wants to push the cable in, of course, to a point where it's hard to get a hand on it. Had to do both ends. What a PITA the top black one is. Don't know how you get a piece of tape in there to mark the spot. I have a pair of cables lying around with the ends still on for reference. By looking at that and putting the trans in neutral I got them locked in. Nice firm shifting now.

I changed the early 98 ends. These are the only ones that can obtained. The 98.5 on up can not be found and the entire cable has to be used unfortunately.

Terry responds to my quips with...

"Don't know how you get a piece of tape in
there to mark the spot."

Unbolt the cable bracket from the trans...slide back the rubber boot...could use a white paint pen or a blade to mark the position of the square inner.....with the bracket unbolted you can work under the hood...Does that help!

Mine is a 98.5 and I just bought the end.

So when the part that the white cable end attachs to is straight up and down, then it's in neural??

I drove it today. First through fourth work fine (3rd gear still feels a bit sloppy) but it would not reach fifth. The shifter feels a bit tighter than I think it should in neutral.

What do I do? Thanks.

Have an assistant in the car. Disconnect the white cable end from the trans. Move the trans to neutral by moving the shift tower. With the help of your assistant find the neutral gate, the area that will permit the shift handle to move freely back and forth. Adjust the white cable end to line up precisely with this point and slide it back onto the shift tower attaching pin. Try shifting to see, but it will probably be lined up now. This is next to impossible without an assistant.