More issues...shifting now

Hey everyone

So I got my car back from my mates house (yay!) drives and feels alot better but then a pretty serious issue came along with regards to the shifter

(this was all with the car turned off) At first what would happen is you would push the shifter into first, and it would look like it was sitting in first gear, but it was actually in third. every other gear was okay.
Then I put it into third gear, and noticed there was some play with the side to side motion, i pushed it left with barely any force and it went into where first should be. Thats when things got messed up
I pulled it out of third and the first thing I noticed is that the neutral position now seems to be left and a bit down (nearly in second) and now I cant push the shifter over to the right where fifth and reverse as
next I put it into neutral and went into the engine bay and grabbed the actual selector on the gearbox (where the linkages attach too) and tried to move it left and right. It still wouldnt go to the right (where fifth and reverse are)

It drove fine the whole way home, but then when I got it in the garage it started to have these issues.

We recently did a motor out service, so my questions are could it be that the linkages have come loose? or could it be that the actual selectors in the gearbox have now selected two gears?

Got the guys who did the service coming round this afternoon but even they dont know what it could be

Thanks
 
-Eric 

There is also an aluminium square block on the gear selector lever that comes out of the gearbox at the linkage cables. These weardown overtime and can cause issues on gear selection. You can either rotate the block 90degrees, providing this hasn't already been done before (It should sit and slide nice and snug), otherwise replace this part.

If there's still lots of free play I'd prob replace the square thingy, shifter bearings at the gearbox end and rosejoint connector at the shifter. There's DIY articles on this forum submitted by an awesome member

LOL I WIN! :D

Still....check the square thingy ;)
It could be a combination of both!

Eric,
two lessons out of this.
1. It's the little things that you forget that will get you at the end. I don't know what system you used to manage all the bits and pieces during the teardown but the so called "pile on the floor" method might have just claimed another victim. In the age of digital photography its so easy to document every step and every nut and bolt taken off, and plastic ice cream containers make great temporary storage. I was caught once when a bolt was lost in the head - at least yours didn't make a noise like someone firing a machine gun in the engine bay which then exploded.
2. Essdub comes from South Australia. Wait a few days he won't remember anything about this. It comes from drinking Southwark the local beer, or is that just a nickname for the Adelaide tap water? I lived at Klemzig for a few years so I know.
More seriously its a great example of how the MR2 Forum works and top marks to Essdub and others for helping out.
Tralfaz
 

Eric

Okay so the mystery is solved! turns out it was the C clip that was missing. just checked it out and it works great now!

Also rotated that block, one side was a bit worn down so the shifting feels better

Thanks everyone!

So, what prize should I get Essdub? :P 

We used the organized piles method :P 

It worked, but as you said, its the little things that kill you.
 
I hope it never has to come out again XD 
 

tralfaz

Eric,
two lessons out of this.
1. It's the little things that you forget that will get you at the end. I don't know what system you used to manage all the bits and pieces during the teardown but the so called "pile on the floor" method might have just claimed another victim. In the age of digital photography its so easy to document every step and every nut and bolt taken off, and plastic ice cream containers make great temporary storage. I was caught once when a bolt was lost in the head - at least yours didn't make a noise like someone firing a machine gun in the engine bay which then exploded.
2. Essdub comes from South Australia. Wait a few days he won't remember anything about this. It comes from drinking Southwark the local beer, or is that just a nickname for the Adelaide tap water? I lived at Klemzig for a few years so I know.
More seriously its a great example of how the MR2 Forum works and top marks to Essdub and others for helping out.
Tralfaz

Eric

Okay so the mystery is solved! turns out it was the C clip that was missing. just checked it out and it works great now!

Also rotated that block, one side was a bit worn down so the shifting feels better

Thanks everyone!

So, what prize should I get Essdub? :P 

I just saw your SW20 on the other topic about the car. It looks really very nice. Slightly modded but still retaining the original design, plus the white really sets it off. Well done. Excellent!
My '89 AW11 S/C is all original with only 122k on the clock and I took the decision to keep it that way because I feel that genuine S/C Adub's with low k's and in excellent condition are getting quite scarce. I have done some hidden mechanical improvements (better brakes, all new suspension, etc;) but I just cannot bring myself to do anything else except maintain it to a high standard and enjoy it. Your Sdub seems the same.
 
I have just acquired an SW20 (black) G Limited with only 78k's on the speedo in all original condition, right down to the 14 inch wheels. I am of two minds what to do with this because I do enjoy modding. Its a hard decision to make but since seeing your car I have been thinking that I will go the route you have taken.
 

EssDub

LOL no worries - happy to help! :P

Funny thing is how I knew about that issue - When I was building the wife's auto SW20 in NZ, I remember dropping down to L to get a good launch and when I went for D, nothing happened!  The shifter went slack... Thought WTF have I done?

Got it home, found the C-clip on the garage floor under the gearbox end! XD