Q: Where is the Shifter Cable Typically Located?
A: Usually, the shifter cable is between the shifter column and the transmission. So you’ll need to check the underside of your vehicle if you want to access it.
The shifter cable is the link that connects the shifter handle and the transmission. Whenever the driver moves the shifter handle to a new position, it changes positions to accommodate the new gear setting. Typically, automatic vehicles have one shifter cable, while manual vehicles have two.
Tips on How to Access the Shifter Cable
The shifter cable is a stiff, woven metal wire rope inside an equally durable woven steel sleeve encased in tough plastic. At the top, usually inside the vehicle, the cable is attached to the shift lever by way of a rotating tube that moves with the lever in some bracketed bushings so that the lever at the bottom of the tube will follow the movement of the manually operated shift lever. Console shifters have the cable sheath anchored just forward of the shifter with the cable connected to the shifter itself.
The cable’s sheath is sealed at both ends to prevent moisture and contamination ingress that would foul the cable.
The sheath is anchored both on one end near the shift lever and on the transmission near the shift linkage so that the sheath can’t move but so that the cable that travels through it can smoothly transfer the movement of the shifter to the input shaft on the transmission input shaft for crisp gear selection.
Each gear position has a detent so that the shift linkage “clicks” into the position selected and doesn’t move on its own.
The best way to reach the shifter cable is to search the vehicle’s underside, then look for the cable beside the transmission.
The cable also goes through the bracket and up through the floorboard, or it will travel through the bulkhead between the engine and the passenger compartment. You can check the underside of the carpet from the inside to access the shifter cable instead of doing it from the vehicle’s underside.
If you want to remove the shifter cable, you must remove the kick panel first. The kick panel can be found underneath the steering column. After removing the column, you can detach the banjo clip and the butterfly clips from the cable. Finally, you can finally remove the shifter cable.
Pro Tips are nuggets of information direct from ASE-certified automobile technicians working with CarParts.com, which may include unique, personal insights based on their years of experience working in the automotive industry. These can help you make more informed decisions about your car.
Pro Tip: When you reinstall the shifter cable, make sure the grommet that seals it on the way through the bulkhead is in place or you’ll probably have a water leak into the passenger compartment.
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