Why is my shifter so hard to put into gear?

Could be the pilot bearing or synchronizer/s

I didn't even bother to think about the synchronizers. Completely forgot about those. Does that have to do with the play in the shifter as well?

Just to add to this one that car doesnt have a pilot bearing.As far as the syncros that wont make excesive play in the shifter.I would fix the excessive play first and see how it shifts then.Play the console out and look at the shifter assembly it could be broken or just worn out.Before you do that make sure the cables are properly attached to this transmission.

Ok, so before I could respond to the replies.....My car broke down. Not really broke down but the car won't shift into any gear now. The shifter kinda just droops around everywhere even without touching. For example, the shifter on a normal car in neutral stands straight up and mine doesn't. It either falls backwards or forwards. I can't "feel" any gears to even try to put the shifter into a gear. I had to get the car towed. PLEASE HELP. Thanks.

Sounds like the cable end broke where it attaches to the inside shifter really common issue on those cars they sell a repair kit to fix the cable end.I wouldnt use the dorman repair end they never stay on.The plastic one piece is the best repair. They sell them on ebay.First make sure one of the cables didnt come loose from where it attaches to the transmission?If it didnt the look and see if it came at the inside shifter?Let me know what you find.

The shift linkage that comes from the transmission slightly behind the back-up light switch looks still intact. Although I'm a mechanic, I just became one by graduating school so I'm still fairly new at this and don't know how to fix certain things yet so I brought it to another mechanic and hes gonna take a look at it. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for your help.

Why didnt you pull the console like i told you to see if the cable end broke?If that cable end broke they sell a repair kit for it instead of replacing the cables.These cars are my speciality iam a factory trained saturn tech Have been for many years.The S model saturns are super easy to work on and very prediable when they brake.

If its a broken cable end its a 20 min fix i have even just loosened the console to fix it.The repair kit on ebay even comes with complete instructions and how to repair it.Also on the ebay listing it tells you how to temp fix untill the part comes.

Ihad already brought the car to him before I saw your reply. And hes willing to fix it for free since I bought the car from him. Do you whats the name of the part/parts we need so we can order it?

Heres the the link to repair the cable end that attaches to the inside shifter if thats what happened.Let me know how you make out when its all done.




http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewitem?itemId=180730225715&index=0&nav=SEARCH&nid=36173252489

So I havnet had a chance to take a look at the car yet but the guy I brought it to said I need a passenger side shift cable. I'm not exactly sure what that is. Is that somewhere along the lines as to what you were telling me?

You better look at those cable ends the one closest to the drivers seat is the one that always breaks.I have never seen the one closest to the passenger seat break.The repair i gave you the link for is for the cable end closest to the drivers seat.Also the cables come as a pair you cant just replace one.

So where would I get this kit at and does it include the cable ends? He told me I need to get it at the dealer and he can get it for $123 but I'm not sure if thats for the kit or just that one cable.

I already told you have to get the cables as a pair from the dealer or aftermarket.I used to work for the dealer for many years and the cables only come as a pair.Also is the cable end closest to the drivers seat inside the car broken where the cable attaches to the base of the shifter?Have you looked yet?Iam getting second hand info here and i need you to get me this info.I also i already gave you the link to the repair on ebay.The ebay listing also tells you how to temp fix it till thr part arrives.This is the fix that i used and it works great i used the dorman repair what a mistake that was it poped back off after a short time.

Its hard for me to answer all your questions because I'm not physically at my car. I dont have a ride anywhere right now so I'm relying strictly on the guy I brought it to to give me answers. He ssaid he order the cable that was broken. He said it has 2 connection ends and 2 hold downs. I asked him what the drivers side looked like so I'm waiting for a response. When I physically have my car I can give you more details.

Now you know how i feel when you said its hard to answer my questions without being physicially at the car.Also i dont know how he got just one cable if you saw the cables out of the car you would see why they come as a pair.I also dont see how he could change just one dont see how its possible.You said you wernt paying for this repair?

no Im not paying. but I am installing it once i can get a ride over there. and ill try the temporary fix as well that way i dont need to get it towed again. He paid $123 and that was with a discount. Do you think that price is the kit? Maybe hes just mistaken.

The cables from the dealer should be way more the repair kit if you looked at it is under 20.If your replacing the cables its easier having someone help you guide the cables thru the firewall.I would keep the cables and fix the cable end if possible.

So getting it from the dealer would give me everything I need to fix the job right? But when I get the parts, based on what you told me to do, I'll try to fix it the way you told me to and if it works, I'll just save the cables like you said just in case down the road it happens again.

Just to add to I asked the guy how did he just order one cable since you said it always comes at a pair and he said hes not sure if its coming as a set because Balise didnt specify.

Yes i would keep the cables and do the repair on the end of the cable.If there coming from the dealer it will be both cables as a set that would fix the problem.Even the aftermarket cables come as a set.Let me know what you find when you get the car.

But the set from the dealer comes with that end cable you mentioned right? Or that bushing?

The set comes with both brand new cables complete with both ends.If you want to put the cables in put them in if it were my car i would keep the cables and just fix the cable end if the one closeset to the drivers seat is broken.

Ok. I'm gonna take your advice and do it your way. Thanks for all your help. I will keep you updated once I get the car back in my hands.

Your welcome thats what were here for keep me posted.

Do you happen to have step-by-step instructions on how to replace the shift linkage? The All-Data system at my school doesnt show anything.

I thought you going to do the cable repair?

Yea I am. This is just in case I can't fix it with the repair. I'm gonna try the repair first but if I can't fix it I'm just gonna replace the whole thing. I haven't seen the car so I'm not sure what to expect.

If you have to replace the cables let me know i will ty to find you the info on changing them.Let me know what you find.

Ok thanks but can you at least show me how to take out the center console and stuff so I can actually get to the shifter lol.

You dont have to remove the console to inspect the cables or repair the one closest to the drivers seat if its broke.But heres how you remove the console.Remove the left and right forward panels in front of the center the console.On the drivers side unplug the cig socket and twist the cig bulb out of the cig socket.Then pop the ashtray cubbie up and out of the console.Then remove the bulb from the ashtry cubbie.Then remove the two screws under those panels.If you have power windows to the rear of the window switch carefully insert two small pocket screwdrivers on each side of the rear of the switch.To release the two retaining tabs for the power window switch.Then pop the switch up and unplug it.Then at the rear of the console on top of it you will see a little door pop it up and out.Then remove the two screws under it then pull the ebrake handle up.Then pull the console rearward and up and out.

So now I can finally confirm what's wrong with it with you since I finally got the car back. Keep in mind the dealership gave me the linkage that wasn't broken instead of the one I needed. Ok so the linkage itself has no problems. The linkage that is directly under the shifter is the culprit. At the bottom of the shifter rod is a little ball looking thing that goes into the linkage. The cable end is there but there's nothing holding the little ball on the rod. It looks like whatever was in the cable end isn't there anymore. I can actually put the little ball into the linkage and shift fine if I hold it but once I let go and try to cycle thru the gears it pops out. Is this the linkage that you thought was broken. This linkage is closer to the passengers side but I remember you saying the drivers side is the one you see but the one closest to the driver looks in good condition. FYI that's the part the dealership gave me but since that one looks fine I'm not touching it.

Can you post a pic of whats going on inside the car and a pic of the part they gave you?

I'll do that right now. I currently just zip tied it together and it works fine but I need to repair it.

It's not letting me upload pictures thru my iPhone. I'm gonna need to send them to you when I get home unfortunately.

You can email them to me [email protected].

Let me know when or if you get the pictures. I sent them to your email.

I got the one of the wrong cable they only come together as a pair for the manual transmission.I havent gotten a pic of the broken part yet?

Idk what to tell you cs it clearly came as one cable lol. I'll try sending the rest again.

Did you get them?