Shift cable

Tiny
TJMOWBRAY
  • MEMBER
  • 1988 CHEVROLET CAVALIER
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 168,000 MILES
I need help understanding the shift cable and the mechanism it is attached to in engine compartment
Friday, January 16th, 2026 AT 7:16 PM

1 Reply

Tiny
STEVE W.
  • MECHANIC
  • 15,426 POSTS
Those are a push pull system. When you move the shifter lever inside to the right and left the cable on the transmission end pulls the internal shift fork selector up and down with the shift selector shaft linkage. Then when you move the lever front or back, it rotates the top lever outside the transmission. The internal selector then moves and slides the correct shift yoke in the transmission to select the gear you wanted. So say you wanted 1st gear. You move the stick inside and the cable will move the internal selector into the notch on the first gear yoke. Then when you put the stick into 1st gear it slides the yoke and moves the sliding gear in the transmission. There are some adjustments but the common issue is the bushings getting worn and the extra play from that means the transmission doesn't fully engage. That is when you replace the bushings or the entire cable assemblies.
What is the issue you are having?
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Saturday, January 17th, 2026 AT 3:21 AM

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