My shift lever fell down.

[Unicornasaurus]

So I was driving along today, and I go to put it into 2nd gear. I feel a little drop but didn't really pay attention to it until I had to shift to the next gear. It seems as though the shift lever has sort of 'fallen' out of its little holder. Luckily there's a pipe right below it and so it seems to be resting on that right now.

I can still shift properly, it just doesn't sit in there right. Is there some sort of screw/ring or something that holds it in?

[kzbill]

actually just pull it up real hard back into place and it should stay again for a long time. mine did it 10,000mi. ago I pulled it up and it stayed. the rubber is just pressed into the stell I think maybe you could go about gluing it but try to pull it back up first.
that pipe it is sitting on is the exhaust pipe. hot hot hot

[stefan]

mine dose this once in awhile. i just give it a good yank at the next red light.

[Unicornasaurus]

Worked great! Thanks!

[25Horseplay]

You can make a small angle bracket to hold it up if it gets worse.

[FB71]

or just run some screws into the side of it, like I did.

[Unicornasaurus]

Since it seems like such a prominent problem among Festiva owners, why wouldn't Ford/Kia/Mazda have put some screws, or even a bolt in there in the first place?

[FB71]

It doesn't become a problem till the cars are around 10years old, when the rubber starts to shrink. Federal law says a car only needs to be supported by the manufacturer for 7 years.

[scitzz]

Mine did this, but a yank won't work. The main support is a rubber ring with three protrusions that hold it in place. On mine, one of the three broke off, and had to be replaced. I got the replacement form a 93 escort!

[geezerstiva]

hmmm. i never had this problem, but my shifter is extremely loose. you can put it in 2nd and push it all the way over till it looks like its in reverse!

[Maxtiva]

hmmm. i never had this problem, but my shifter is extremely loose. you can put it in 2nd and push it all the way over till it looks like its in reverse!

On my festiva it is the same thing and I hate it. I think I will buy a short shifter and repair it at the same time

[scitzz]

Hmm, I thought about a shorter shifter to reduce throw, but I thought that would be a slight bit uncomfortable for me with all the city driving I do....

[nautical_lifens]

its an easy fix if it falls threw... i had to replace mine.... simple. and for the short shifter i had and adjustable pasesetter and it was a low as it could go and i delievered pizza for a year no probs

[elcamino1]

I put a couple of screws in the side 6 years ago still holding.
Replaceing the bushings at the bottom of the shifter takes up the slop.
I used chevy door hinge bushings made out of brass, find them in the help section in your local parts store.

[geezerstiva]

i got underneath the car one time and the bushings didn't seem all that loose. it seemed like it was between the shifter and the linkage. it doesn't bother me much, but when one of my family drives my car, boy does it bug them! :lol:
thanks for the info, i might go take a look at those door hinges.