transmission/shifter problem

[brandonlgilbert]

OK guys this is what I have. 1996 240sx SE with a Zenki SR20DET and 5spd. I have the B&M short shifter and SPEC stage 2 clutch.

The problem: Today I was a stop sign coming home from washing the car. I started out kinda slow and at around 20mph gave it full throttle. Since I have old worn out 205/55/16 on stock rims, it spun some. Took it up to around 6800 and shifted to 2nd. It spun a little, and again I took it up to around 6800 and shifted to 3rd. Tires chirped and once more went to 6800. As soon as I went for 4th, the shifter felt, for lack of better description, like a stick in a bucket. It was just kinda flopping around and I couldn't "feel" where the gears were. So I pressed the clutch in and coasted down the street to my house. Once in my driveway, I discovered that it was still in gear. I couldn't tell by the location of the shifter which gear I was in. Since it tried to die when I let out on the clutch, I figured it was still in 4th. I had to get it into neutral so I could push it into the garage. I had to pick up and push down on the shifter and wiggle it left and right, up and down and try to let out on the clutch pedal to figure out if it was in neutral. Finally after 15 minutes of doing this I got it into neutral.

So, anyway, that is my situation. Any ideas what might have gone wrong? The swap and clutch may have a total of 4000 miles on it since putting it in the car.

My buddy said maybe an input shaft problem. ????

Help me out here guys. I know you all are the experts.

I'm good at 2 things: making a lot of noise and breaking sh*t so any help is greatly appreciated.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

why dont you take the shifter out and see what the problem is? i know a guy who broke his shifter right in the middle of the shaft possibly your broke yours towards the bottom but not ALL the way off..maybe its still hanging on a little..just take it off and see

[brandonlgilbert]

I took off the shift knob, removed the trim bezel and everything looks ok down to the blue plate where the rubber boot connects to it. Maybe its broken under the plate where the bottom of the shifter connects to the trans.? I'll check it out tomorrow. Thanks for the suggestion.

[brandonlgilbert]

OK. I was just about to remove the shifter, but I can't get to the last 2 bolts holding in place. I got 4 out, but the two closest to the ashtray/lighter are not accessible from inside the car. Any advice?

This car is going to make me into an alcoholic or mentally disturbed or both.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

take it off how you put it on

[brandonlgilbert]

It was already in the car when I got it. I got it out using swivel headed ratcheting wrenches. $50 and a quick trip to Lowes yielded these nifty tools. Those last 2 were a total pain. Anyway, once removed it looks like the small white bushing on the end that connects onto the trans. is broken. It wasn't attatched to the shifter and was lying inside there next to the shifter.

Do you know if replacement bushings are available? I've searched on B&M's website and several of our sponsors.

It would really suck to have to shell out $200+ for a whole new short shifter just because of a tiny little peice of plastic.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

i think that servers as a spacer..can u push it back on and glue it..did it fall of or crack apart? pics?

[brandonlgilbert]

I think maybe it broke in half. I only found one peice, but it doesn't seem to fit back onto the shifter. If I haven't figured it out tomorrow, I'll try to get some pics. Thanks.

[IanS]

if the shifter is still new, you may want to email or call B&M they may just send you a new one

[S13FASTBACKSR]

you are the second person i have heard of with a B&M shifter that broke..maybe they have the best feeling shifts but quality im starting to wonder about..ive never heard of this happening to any other shifter or an oem one either

[IanS]

Ive never understood the obsession with short shifters, I drove my budys 240 with the B&M in it and it took too much effort to shift, I just dont think its worth the tradeoff

[S13FASTBACKSR]

i dont have a s.s. but i want one because it will take maybe a few tenths of a second off the q/m time...and once you get used to using it, it shouldnt be no big deal

[IanS]

ive never had my car to the strip, Im not into dragging, thus a ss is useless, although, I should probly run my car one of these days.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

im guessing since you arent into going to the strip and your sig says drive fast and take chances you must be into street racing..because you dont spend thousands of dollars on performance mods to your car and not drive fast somewhere lol..what are your mods?

[brandonlgilbert]

A buddy of mine said that he had one (pivot cup) get chewed up on the B&M SS for his mustang. He called B&M and they sent him a "rebuild kit" with new pivot cup, bushings, etc. basically everything that wasn't metal, for free.

So I just called B&M.....no replacement parts without a receipt of purchase.

Oh well I guess Enjuku will get another $200+ from me for a new SS.

All that over a tiny peice of plastic the size of a dime.

Thanks for the advice and input guys.

[S13FASTBACKSR]

make sure you save that receipt lol