Just bought 92 Festiva...shifter really loose

[Jdperrine]

I'm new with no experience in maintenance. I got this car for really cheap with the knowledge that I can learn to do the maintenance myself with some help.

Pretty much the only thing wrong with it is a leaky head cover gasket and the shifter being really loose. The gasket I'm not worried about...because I know people that can help me with it.

My concern is with the shifter...I've read on the forum that a lot of you like to replace the stock shifter with the 92-95 Civic short-shifter. But is simply replacing the shifter with this going to fix the looseness?

I apologize if this has been covered previously, I just couldn't find it.

[Charlie1717]

Welcome to the site!
The looseness sounds like it's your bushings. There are some threads around with info on that just do a bit of searching. The civic short throw is a good mod to do also at the same time you replace the bushings.

Also did you mean the valve cover gasket? That will be a simple fix.

You picked a great car to learn on. It's also the car I'm learning on. I knew nothing starting and know quite a bit more now. This site is a great resource and will be very helpful.

Good luck!

Here is a link to get you started

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=31564&highlight=Shifter+bushings

[Safety Guy]

If your shifter is "falling," this is your solution:

http://www.fordfestiva.com/forums/showthread.php?t=26920

If it's just "really loose," I believe you may need new shifter bushings. I read somewhere that '93 Protege shifter bushings will work. Not sure if those bushings are in the shifter itself or at the shift rod/transaxle junction. Maybe someone else can comment?

Karl

[denguy]

Search this item number on EBAY. 170542738839

They really tightened up my shifters.

[25Horseplay]

Try going to a Mazda dealer and buying bushings for a late 80's 323 they should be available still.

[rbrown]

Search this item number on EBAY. 170542738839

They really tightened up my shifters.

Hey these are cool but.....
I wish they were in the states.

[denguy]

The included bolt and third set of bushings is for replacing the pin in the shift rod u joint that you have to grind the head off to get out.