Shift Cable: Service and Repair

REMOVAL
1. Disconnect Power Distribution Center from battery tray and set aside.
2. Remove air cleaner inlet horn.
3. Remove battery and battery tray.

Fig. 7:

Fig. 8:

4. Disconnect gear shift cable ends from transaxle shift levers.

CAUTION: Pry up with equal force on both sides of shifter cable isolator bushings to avoid damaging cable isolator bushings.

5. Remove cable to bracket retaining clips at transaxle.

CAUTION: It is recommended that new cable retaining clips be used for reinstallation.

6. Pull cables up out of transaxle bracket.
7. Remove console from vehicle.

Fig. 9:

8. Remove floor pan grommet retaining nuts.

Fig. 10:

9. Remove cable retaining clips at shifter.

CAUTION: It is recommended that new cable retaining clips be used for reinstallation.

10. Disconnect shift cables from shifter. Pry with equal force on both sides of shifter cable isolator bushings to avoid damaging bushings.

Fig. 11:

11. Lift vehicle on hoist. Remove self-tapping screw securing grommet plate to underbody heat shield and floor pan.
12. Detach cables from cable support clip in tunnel above exhaust catalyst.
13. Remove shift cable assembly from vehicle.

INSTALLATION

CAUTION: Gearshift cable bushings must not be lubricated or the bushings will swell and split.

1. To install, reverse removal procedure. After cables have been replaced, cable adjustment should be checked. Refer to cable adjustment procedure.

CAUTION: Only the crossover cable is adjustable. The selector cable does not have any adjustment capabilities.

GEARSHIFT CROSSOVER CABLE ADJUSTMENT
1. Remove shift console from vehicle.

Fig. 12:

2. Loosen adjusting screw on crossover cable at shifter.

Fig. 13:

3. Pin transaxle crossover lever in 3-4 neutral position using a 1/4 inch drill bit. Align hole in crossover lever with the hole in the boss on the transaxle case. Be sure drill bit goes into transaxle case at least one half inch.
4. The shifter is spring-loaded and self-centering. Allow shifter to rest in its neutral position. Torque adjustment screw to 8 Nm (70 inch lbs.). Care must be taken to avoid moving the shift mechanism off-center during screw tightening.
5. Remove drill bit from transaxle case and perform functional check by shifting transaxle into all gears.
6. Reinstall center shift console. Blouse boot out around console. Seat boot lip on top of console.