QuestionQUESTION: Gear knob came off shifter. & a half of the white stick inside of it is still in there. My car runs.fine. never had any problems with start up. My boyfriend was in the process of screwing the knob back on . & broke the white stick it is attached to.
How much & what are parts needed to fix this?
& what can I expect the mechanics to charge? Help :(
ANSWER: Hi Brittany,
What is the year model, and is this a floor mounted or steering column mounted shifter and is this an automatic or 'stick' shift transmission? Let me know and then I will check out the manual.
Roland
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QUESTION: I apolgize, Dodge Stratus 2004 2door sxt. Automatic.
My gear shift is not placed by the steering wheel. It's at seat level. ( I suppose floor mounted )
The gear knob itself is the style with a button on the side, used to switch gears. This is off and the white stick like peice is broken partially. I'm worried that since the knob and the peice connecting it has came off that my transmission will be ruined.
ANSWER: Hi Brittany,
Based upon what I see in the manual I don't believe that you can damage the transmission as the result of this problem. The shifter simply moves cables that is attached to the other end of it so the problem will be an inability to move the shifter rather than do any damage. Other than to move the shifter to the various positions for the different gear choices (which you may still be able to do if enough of the shifter is still available for you to grasp, the other part in the 'rod' inside the shifter whose purpose is to keep from accidentally shifting into reverse or park without first pushing on the rod (which is what the button on the side of the knob does when you press it. So you should be able to drive it if your fingers can press that rod as needed to get the shifter to move between the gear positions which required the use of the button before things broke.
The shifter is part of the 'shift mechanism' and that may not be sold separately, so stop at the parts counter of the dealer and ask to see that part of the parts manual to see whether it is available for replacement. If not, then the three choices would be to replace the mechanism (which involves disassembly (disconnecting the cables, etc.), attempting to reconnect the two parts that are broken (perhaps a 'splint of metal' at the break point that fits snuggly around the shifter and held in place by some J-B Weld (a liquid plastic that hardens overnight), or going to a wrecking yard and getting the mechanism off of a wreck. I can copy the pages that show how to remove the mechanism if your boyfriend or another party want to do that. Tell me your email address, but don't use @ rather use 'at', otherwise it will be automatically erased from your follow-up question.
Thanks for the rating, but if you would do it again for this answer, only this time also say "yes" to a nomination of me, I would be most appreciative.
Thanks,
Roland
PS I can't 'picture' exactly where the white shifter is broken, but if it is at the very end, right where the knob attaches to it, you may be able to simply remove the piece and then with J-B weld cement the piece back onto the shifter. The knob has a single small 'set screw' which you would loosen and allow the broken piece to come out of the knob. That set screw should have been released to begin with and thus have avoided the damage in the first place. So look at that possible 'fix' as well. It will be virtually no cost except for the J-B weld (under
$10) where as if you replace the entire mechanism and pay for the labor it will cost hundreds of dollars!
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QUESTION: Thank you I ended up putting the gear shift back on, & in order to shift gears I press down and slide.Since I have a child I thought it may be wise to get this fixed for good.
I also took my car to mechanic , and was told the parts would be 112$ with labor my total comes to 185.00$ . So you were right! Thank you so much for responding quickly and adding a since of relief!
AnswerHi Brittany,
You are welcome. I am pleased that you can drive the car and that for not too much money you can replace the broken part. Let me know if I can be of help to the mechanic if he needs to see the pages from the manual that show the procedure for removing the entire shift mechanism if that is required.
If you would be so kind as to do another rating of me, and where you see the question about a nomination of me for 'volunteer of the month' give a 'yes' response, I would be most appreciative.
Roland
