shift linkage broke 3 times in a row....
05-22-2010, 08:43 PM
#26
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well it took like 4 hours to find the right way to fix my linkage but it is fixed i driving on the broken linkage and will see if i can nls with my little mod. might help stiffen the new one when i get it.
if u have to replace that plastic thing u have to order a hole shifter. or do what i did and get a cavalier one from the junk yard and mod the plastic to make the new plastic ball joint thing fit.
if u have to replace that plastic thing u have to order a hole shifter. or do what i did and get a cavalier one from the junk yard and mod the plastic to make the new plastic ball joint thing fit.
Last edited by turbo_chevy_cobalt; 05-22-2010 at 08:43 PM. Reason: Automerged Doublepost
05-28-2010, 04:18 PM
#30
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Mine just went into the dealership for this problem today. It is the same problem mentioned by others - 2nd, 4th, R. I try to baby my car and don't NLS, so I don't think it is "driver error" either.
05-29-2010, 02:35 PM
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My linkage poped off the ball of the shifter during NLS just last night, poped it back on and already poped off again normal shifting. Im sure the crappy plastic is the reason...
05-29-2010, 07:21 PM
#32
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05-30-2010, 07:36 AM
#34
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09 SS Sedan, 19K miles, no mods. Mine broke one day on the way to work during a NLS from 2nd to 3rd. Entire shifter just went LIMP. Took them nearly 3 weeks to get part and get it installed. They covered a rental the entire time. Since then I've been afraid to NLS.
I'm 44yrs old and I've driven Standards, manual's, Stick-shift, whatever you want to call it, since I was about 10yrs old. Everything from a ****** Jeep, a TON of Honda's (Accords, Preludes, etc..) Audi's, Chevy II, 78 Camaro Z28, Nissan's and I've NEVER broken a shift linkage. All of the aforementioned vehicles were driven just as HARD if not harder than my Cobalt.
Now I see this huge list of people that have had the same problem. Sort of pisses me off. Did some of us get Lemons? The reason for that question is there are also many of you who obviously run the crap out of your cars and don't have the issue.
Does a short-throw shifter help this situation? I also saw solid shifter bushings mentioned somewhere...would they help? I hate having to *****-foot around in a car that's meant to be DRIVEN.
I'm 44yrs old and I've driven Standards, manual's, Stick-shift, whatever you want to call it, since I was about 10yrs old. Everything from a ****** Jeep, a TON of Honda's (Accords, Preludes, etc..) Audi's, Chevy II, 78 Camaro Z28, Nissan's and I've NEVER broken a shift linkage. All of the aforementioned vehicles were driven just as HARD if not harder than my Cobalt.
Now I see this huge list of people that have had the same problem. Sort of pisses me off. Did some of us get Lemons? The reason for that question is there are also many of you who obviously run the crap out of your cars and don't have the issue.
Does a short-throw shifter help this situation? I also saw solid shifter bushings mentioned somewhere...would they help? I hate having to *****-foot around in a car that's meant to be DRIVEN.
05-31-2010, 12:35 AM
#35
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09 SS Sedan, 19K miles, no mods. Mine broke one day on the way to work during a NLS from 2nd to 3rd. Entire shifter just went LIMP. Took them nearly 3 weeks to get part and get it installed. They covered a rental the entire time. Since then I've been afraid to NLS.
I'm 44yrs old and I've driven Standards, manual's, Stick-shift, whatever you want to call it, since I was about 10yrs old. Everything from a ****** Jeep, a TON of Honda's (Accords, Preludes, etc..) Audi's, Chevy II, 78 Camaro Z28, Nissan's and I've NEVER broken a shift linkage. All of the aforementioned vehicles were driven just as HARD if not harder than my Cobalt.
Now I see this huge list of people that have had the same problem. Sort of pisses me off. Did some of us get Lemons? The reason for that question is there are also many of you who obviously run the crap out of your cars and don't have the issue.
Does a short-throw shifter help this situation? I also saw solid shifter bushings mentioned somewhere...would they help? I hate having to *****-foot around in a car that's meant to be DRIVEN.
I'm 44yrs old and I've driven Standards, manual's, Stick-shift, whatever you want to call it, since I was about 10yrs old. Everything from a ****** Jeep, a TON of Honda's (Accords, Preludes, etc..) Audi's, Chevy II, 78 Camaro Z28, Nissan's and I've NEVER broken a shift linkage. All of the aforementioned vehicles were driven just as HARD if not harder than my Cobalt.
Now I see this huge list of people that have had the same problem. Sort of pisses me off. Did some of us get Lemons? The reason for that question is there are also many of you who obviously run the crap out of your cars and don't have the issue.
Does a short-throw shifter help this situation? I also saw solid shifter bushings mentioned somewhere...would they help? I hate having to *****-foot around in a car that's meant to be DRIVEN.
05-31-2010, 11:10 AM
#37
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today my shift linkage for 2nd 4th and reverse has broken for the third time in a month.
the first time i just figured was a bad part, it was replaced under warranty.
the second time was at the track after i just drove all the way to lebanon. didnt even get one run in, it broke going into second gear.
the third time was pulling out quickly in traffic and shifting into 2nd.
this is ******* rediculous. Today before it broke for the third time, i even adjusted the linkage per instructions from a gm tech. It felt much better going into 2nd under normal driving conditions, but shifting under WOT or a NLS it just busted again.
I think the car is a lemon. the brakes have already been replaced and they are gouging the rotors again. the car only has 10k miles on it.
the first time i just figured was a bad part, it was replaced under warranty.
the second time was at the track after i just drove all the way to lebanon. didnt even get one run in, it broke going into second gear.
the third time was pulling out quickly in traffic and shifting into 2nd.
this is ******* rediculous. Today before it broke for the third time, i even adjusted the linkage per instructions from a gm tech. It felt much better going into 2nd under normal driving conditions, but shifting under WOT or a NLS it just busted again.
I think the car is a lemon. the brakes have already been replaced and they are gouging the rotors again. the car only has 10k miles on it.
05-31-2010, 08:48 PM
#39
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05-31-2010, 10:16 PM
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06-01-2010, 10:04 AM
#45
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I would guess that some of the broken linkage issues are a result of people pushing the shifter until it completely stops and/or equating quick to tense muscles with a lot of force. The shifter can be pushed beyond where it actually engages the next gear, so pushing it until it won't go any further may be adding extra stress to the linkage. A quick shift should be relaxed and use about the same amount of force as casual shifts. If slamming the shifter crosses your mind at all when shifting, then you're shifting too hard. You're selecting gears; not punching someone in the face.
I'm not saying this is the reason for all of the linkage issues, but there is without a doubt some people who do shift way too hard.
I'm not saying this is the reason for all of the linkage issues, but there is without a doubt some people who do shift way too hard.
06-01-2010, 12:23 PM
#46
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I would guess that some of the broken linkage issues are a result of people pushing the shifter until it completely stops and/or equating quick to tense muscles with a lot of force. The shifter can be pushed beyond where it actually engages the next gear, so pushing it until it won't go any further may be adding extra stress to the linkage. A quick shift should be relaxed and use about the same amount of force as casual shifts. If slamming the shifter crosses your mind at all when shifting, then you're shifting too hard. You're selecting gears; not punching someone in the face.
I'm not saying this is the reason for all of the linkage issues, but there is without a doubt some people who do shift way too hard.
I'm not saying this is the reason for all of the linkage issues, but there is without a doubt some people who do shift way too hard.
06-01-2010, 10:00 PM
#47
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i never broke my 2001 cavalier and 2003 cavalier 5 speed cables before. i think the cable has to much flex in it and that y it breaks.
06-02-2010, 01:39 AM
#48
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06-02-2010, 05:25 AM
#49
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I agree, that it could be driver error... However, I'm 44yrs old and driven stick since I was 10. (Grew up "country") I've beaten the hell out of nearly all the cars/trucks I've owned and never ONCE did this happen to me previously. So, the only variable that's changed is owning a Cobalt. To me that points directly at the Cobalt. It's not like I just got finished with the "How to curl 400 pounds W/one arm" self-help book... If anything, I'm getting older and weaker.
DESIGN FLAW.
DESIGN FLAW.
