Shifter just...fell out!

[wilko33]

Set off at a roundabout and had to floor it from some fool not been able to indicate off. As the wheels started to spin, the whole shifter just dropped straight through the floor. I pulled over and looked under the car and it was still connected just resting on the de-cat pipe. I pulled it back up and it just seemed to pop back in.

Having stripped it down the rubber holder is simply falling through the holder... what am I missing to stop this happening?? Is there a clip that has broken or something? I'm meant to be track daying my car in 3 weeks and cant have the shifter falling out!!!!

[solo_ryder]

HAHAHA common issue, the shifters really do not have alot holding them in there. They can fall out if you press hard enough. You can build some kind of bracket if u want that will hold it in place, but this is not uncommon

[infiniGTR]

There isn't really a clip that holds it in. It's is a rubber bushing of sorts with two "tabs" on either side. Those tabs can fall off when the rubber gets old and worn. I broke mine on my Protege installing a SS. I just picked up a new one at the junk yard. I think that one eventually gave out too. The only way to really fix it is to bolt/screw it to the car. I'm not sure if the rubber piece can be replaced or not.

[wytbishop]

This is a very common issue and happened to me last year. I was directed to this thread http://www.mx-3.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.ph ... a&start=45" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; which describes the problem in detail.

As far as solutions, there is a fellow in the US who devised a bracket (the subject of the thread listed above) which holds the shifter up, but I don't know if he's still making his invention available for purchase. I found that a first gen Mazda 626 has the identical shifter assembly to our MX-3's. If there is a scrap yard near you you might be able to find one.

Here is a picture from the aforementioned thread which illustrates the problem...



The rubber boot through which the shifter is inserted is bonded to the inside of the mounting plate, but only on the sides. This is designed to isolate the shifter from the floor of the car and the driver, reducing vibration. By using the "Anti-Drop Bracket" and fastening the shifter to the floor of the car you will be introducing some vibration to the car.

The best solution I heard of other than replacing with another shifter assembly is to re-bond the boot to the mounting plate with some sort of Eurethane. As I said, I took one from a 1995 626 and found that it was identical. Be careful removing the part if you find one. Don't push down on the shifter to push the plate out of the floor or you'll damage it in the same way your old one was damaged.

[infiniGTR]

90-94 Protege one is the same also.

[Flyer]

Kids, this is why you don't pick on the nerds. They grow up to be spiteful engineers.

[Dali]

lol, great comment. i ran 2 self tapping screws threw the shifter mount up into the car. works pretty good, i will replace with a couple of good bolts here when i redo the exhaust in a month or two. quick easy fix.

[NorCalMX3]

this also just happened to me a few days back, i've got it to pop into place again, but i'm just gonna make a bracket to hold it up, i just don't have a garage in college

[wilko33]

the way I saw it it would be easy enough to simply pin the mount in place and bolt it tight someway, just didnt want to foul the movement of the shifter.

the last thing i want is to be abusing some cars on the track and my shifter fall out!!!! he car is much much faster than I ever thought it would be so kinda wanting to prove a point. Want things right for the track days.

not sure if you have then in the states but Civic Type R's are my aim and with a KLZE I think I can have them but dont want things going wrong!!!

[wytbishop]

If I were you I'd remove the assembly and bond the whole thing back together similar to filling the motor mounts. that way you'd have the anti vibration isolation as well as a more robust assembly. But if that's too much work you ought to be able to find one at a junk yard. It's a very easy part to replace.