# Manual Transmission problem

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** transmissions, clutches, saturn\
**Created:** [September 23, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018 "2007-09-23T03:11:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ghuegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@ghuegel](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ghuegel)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018/1 "2007-09-23T03:11:57Z")

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Hi everybody,  
  
  
  
 Hoping y’all can help me to know what sort of trouble my car’s in, so I don’t get ripped off at the mechanic and so I know whether I need to look for a new car…  
  
  
  
 I have a '96 Saturn SL with a manual transmission and ~130,000 miles. Today, it started having major troubles… sometimes, when I shift gears, it won’t disengage from the gear it’s in and the stick will become loose and totally useless… engaging the clutch will put it into neutral, but I can’t access any gear other than the one I’m in… when I pull back on the clutch, the gear will re-engage. After fiddling around for a while, everything will start working again seemingly normally.  
  
  
  
 So… is it toast? Should I go donate it and start looking for a new ride? Any ideas what might be wrong and how much it’ll cost? Any advice for a good shop nearby downtown San Diego?  
  
  
  
 All help will be greatly appreciated.  
  
  
  
 Thanks,  
  
 Gerard

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**Author:** ![mr\_josh](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mr_josh/32/3008_2.png) [@mr\_josh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mr_josh)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 9:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018/2 "2007-09-23T09:47:12Z")

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I would hope for a linkage problem!

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**Author:** ![Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/joseph_e_meehan/32/21_2.png) [@Joseph\_E\_Meehan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Joseph_E_Meehan)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 10:27am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018/3 "2007-09-23T10:27:36Z")

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I would guess it is most likely a linkage problem and that should not be expensive, but from here it is not possible to tell.

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [September 23, 2007, 5:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018/4 "2007-09-23T17:13:32Z")

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Most FWD stick shift cars use a complex monkey-motion shift linkage comprised of rods, shafts, pivots, bellcranks, cables, pins, washers and clips. Chances are, you will find the problem in this area…

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**Author:** ![ghuegel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@ghuegel](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ghuegel)\
**Post date:** [September 25, 2007, 2:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/manual-transmission-problem/5018/5 "2007-09-25T02:12:59Z")

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Thanks to all who responded.

I took the car in today and it turns out that the problem was a bad clutch cable. The replaced the cable and the problem is gone. Cost a little over $400… and this is relatively expensive shop that is just very conveniently located for me and seems like an honest place.

Again, thanks all.  
Gerard