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Thread: Manual transmission: Worn out shifter!

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  1. #1
    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Manual transmission: Worn out shifter!

    Well, after 174,000 miles of in-town delivery driving my shifter had become quite sloppy. There was a good inch of lateral play at the shift knob in every gear, and about half an inch of fore-and-aft play. It had gotten so bad that I was occasionally missing shifts! I decided it was time to replace some parts, but I didn't exactly know which parts I needed to replace.

    As I mentioned in another thread, I was able to find a wrecked 2015 Mirage at a P&P yard about half an hour away from me. I went to get the rear drums, but since the car was a manual I decided to also get the shifter, shift cables, clutch cable, and pedal pads. Tonight I decided to take things apart and see what was worn out, and I started in the interior.

    I didn't have to look for long...



    I thought it might be the shift cables...which would have been a lot more work...but it turned out to be the shifter itself. The shifter on these cars is made of plastic. The metal shift lever is attached to a plastic ball which moves in a plastic cage that is bolted to the floor. The plastic ball and cage on my car had worn quite badly. The new shifter on the right has fresh white lithium grease on it. My old shifter on the left has thick, dried out grease which has been contaminated with black plastic shavings.

    Fortunately, replacing the shifters on these cars is incredibly easy. Seriously, it takes like 15 minutes. Just remove the center console (two clips, one 10mm bolt) and there are four 12mm bolts holding it to the floor. The shift cables snap into the base of the shifter, and the ends of the cables each attach to the shift rod with a clip. There is also a pair of clips that holds a wiring harness to the base of the shifter assembly.

    The car shifts soooooooooo much better now!

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    Senior Member AtomicPunk's Avatar
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    Thanks for the useful post. Since its so easy to get to, any thoughts on a preventative application of new white lithium grease?

  4. #3
    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AtomicPunk View Post
    Thanks for the useful post. Since its so easy to get to, any thoughts on a preventative application of new white lithium grease?
    It certainly might prolong the life of your shifter. But replacing the shifter is a snap....literally. There are four bolts holding it down and everything else snaps in or clips on.

    Even a brand new shifter assembly from Mitsubishi is only $135. My used one was $23.


  5. #4
    Moderator Eggman's Avatar
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    Do you suppose a worn shifter would keep from selecting 1st or 2nd gears, like what happened to stevedmc?

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2015 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 49.6 mpg (US) ... 21.1 km/L ... 4.7 L/100 km ... 59.5 mpg (Imp)


  6. #5
    Senior Member Cobrajet's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Eggman View Post
    Do you suppose a worn shifter would keep from selecting 1st or 2nd gears, like what happened to stevedmc?
    Certainly possible, but I am not sure I ever heard him mention any sloppiness in the shifter? With the miles he had it must have been worn. I am not sure it would specifically affect 1st and 2nd, though.

    My shifter was sloppy in all gears, and even in neutral. The shift I usually missed...when I missed one...was the 2-3 upshift.

  7. #6
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    You must be shifting gears like this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhjuPNT-ip4

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2020 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 42.4 mpg (US) ... 18.0 km/L ... 5.6 L/100 km ... 50.9 mpg (Imp)


  8. #7
    Great post - thanks, Cobrajet

        __________________________________________

        click to view fuel log View my fuel log 2014 Mirage ES 1.2 manual: 63.2 mpg (US) ... 26.9 km/L ... 3.7 L/100 km ... 75.9 mpg (Imp)


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