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Broken Shifter!!; It dropped into the floor!
Topic Started: Dec 2 2013, 12:38 PM (3,822 Views)
omniminded


Last night I was driving, began to shift, and the shifter dropped several inches!! It was no longer seated properly. I immediately braked, turned off the engine, engaged the e-brake, and called for a tow. I phoned my mechanic friend who said he thought it might be a bearing, but that he'd really need to have a look.

Help!!
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

Is the car rusty? I have seen this happen on rusty cars where the entire shift assy drops out the bottom.
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omniminded


Johnny Mullet
Dec 2 2013, 12:45 PM
Is the car rusty? I have seen this happen on rusty cars where the entire shift assy drops out the bottom.
Nothing about the car appears rusty. There are a few dings in the paint that show rust but otherwise everyone that has seen photos or seen it in person comments that it looks pretty good. I posted photos here: http://geometroforum.com/single/?p=835621&t=5249573

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Murf 59
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I would look under the car where the shifter comes thru the tunnel. Maybe something failed under there.
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Bad Bent
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Facetious Educated Donkey

I found a thread of the assembly... DIY Short Shifter by Potter

Including a pic...

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I'd think for it to drop several inches it would have to loose the 4 nuts at the top?
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David95237


Ill bet some one lost their nuts.
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omniminded


Bad Bent
Dec 2 2013, 03:02 PM
I found a thread of the assembly... DIY Short Shifter by Potter

Including a pic...

Posted Image

I'd think for it to drop several inches it would have to loose the 4 nuts at the top?
Very helpful picture. By that, I am inclined to agree that its the nuts.

Okay, literally since I wrote the line above, my friends arrived to help get it on a Uhaul car trailer. Mechanic friend looked underneath and was able to point out where it was sagging. He too mentioned bolts. I am assuming he meant those seen in the picture.

I will try to take photos as I don't imagine there are many threads addressing this issue.

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Old Man


two pics in this post. look at the second one. bolts are missing. that's the bolts where yours has lost the nuts.
http://geometroforum.com/single/?p=764660&t=5089715
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pvr007
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mine once broke... the shifter pin fell so i got down there and used a pen as a replacement until i got to an auto zone and bought a bolt, still using it like that works good.
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omniminded


I got the car over to my mechanic friend's place. Can't do anymore till tomorrow. I can't explain this well right now, but the former owner that had done the "rebuild" is officially a fraudster. Apparently at a point where things connect to the transmission, there are 3 bolts. Only 1 bolt was used and it got sheered which it seems is the cause of this latest problem.

I bought it in Texas. Does anyone here have experience or knowledge of if there is any kind of recourse or punitive action I could take against this fraudster?
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Johnny Mullet
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Fear the Mullet

:smackface

You bought this car off of a "Geo Flipper" who will buy a Metro, supposedly "fix" it up and sell it for more.
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truckjohn


Much as I would love to tell you Yes... I can't... It's a used car.... You own it now... Caveat Emptor... I suppose you may have had the opportunity to take it to a mechanic for inspection before buying... It's yours now...

Really - you ought to be taking pix and posting them on the Wall of Shame...

Perhaps... maybe a 20 year old used economy car that has seen several owners isn't the right car for you?

Thanks
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omniminded


Photo Update...

John, my mechanic friend was able to get the sheered bolt out. (The first image shows the distance the bracket separated.)

View gallery for full size high resolution images here: http://imgur.com/a/a1kvf

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We determined that the bolts were Metric M10-1.25x30. I bought grade 8 replacements. There's no way the sheered bolt was grade 8. The bracket holes (no idea what the proper name for the part is - this thing) allowed too much play of the inserted bolts for my liking so I had the idea of wrapping the top of the bolts with Teflon tape to fill the void. The bolts I found were a bit long so I also bought some grade 8 washers to achieve the proper insertion length.

Posted Image (This is the hi-res)
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omniminded


truckjohn
Dec 2 2013, 09:43 PM
You own it now... Caveat Emptor...

Perhaps... maybe a 20 year old used economy car that has seen several owners isn't the right car for you?
Caveat Emptor by definition expects "reasonable inspection" before purchase and has the presumption that there may be defects, wear and tear, and improper care - NOT intentional fraudulent deception concealing (even creating) severe, costly, and possibly dangerous problems. Otherwise, it would have prevented the formation of lemon laws in the first place for new cars, and there would be no need for "As-is" waivers on old cars. No "reasonable inspection" would have caught these problems.

You're absolutely right. Its not the right car for me -- no car is the right car for me, I don't like cars, especially not tiny ones. I'll prefer driving my Suburban (or a motor bike) any day of the week. -- But I dislike spending more than need be on gas, and there are times when a motorbike just isn't practical.

But that's not really where you were going there. You are essentially implying that I am over reacting and/or unprepared for the trials that come with the ownership of a late model vehicle (as if it's my first), while in reality, the issue has nothing to do with it being a late model vehicle, it has to do with having been cheated by a fraudster. Frankly if you think fraud is nothing to get upset about, I've got this dandy bridge to sell you in Brooklyn, you'll double your investment in a week!
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clarkdw


It would be pretty difficult to prove in court that he left the bolts out intentionally. Poor workmanship yes, but fraud?
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