RE: COUPE QUATTRO SHIFT LINKAGE

[FMARTIN <fmartin@ithaca.edu>]

>Date: Fri, 17 Oct 1997 01:49:30 -0400 (EDT)
>From: Porsray@aol.com
>Subject: COUPE QUATTRO SHIFT LINKAGE
>
edited......

>Don't know if this is coincidence or not,  but shortly after the dire stories
>on the 4-figure Quattro tranny repairs started appearing, I began having 
>problems with the shift linkage on the Coupe.  It would hang up occasionally
>on 1st-2nd shift (wouldn't go in) and also on 4th-5th shifts (would go into 
>3rd rather than 5th).  I took the knob and boot off, and noticed that the 
>round metal ring holding the plastic ball-&-socket joint in place (best way
> I can describe it) was loose.  Lacking time to really troubleshoot, I 
>snapped the ring back in  place.  This improved things, but linkage is still
>sloppy - in 1st thru 4th, can wiggle the shift rod noticeably in any gear, 
>and have about 1/2 - 1" vertical free play movement in shift rod.  Was 
>wondering what the group's experiences are.  I have intentions of 
>replacing the ball-&-socket joint, the metal holding ring, and (possibly) 
>the shift rod between the gear lever and the tranny, but want to get
>opinions/experiences before proceeding.  Bentley's isn't much help
>about what to expect.

I can't offer much other than it seems you've pretty well sorted out the problem and 
the best fix. I had a similar problem in my Q (130K miles) and did a "temporary" fix 
by actually shimming up the ring into it's proper place, using a couple precisely cut 
pieces of cedar roofing shingle (hey, it was late, I was cheap, and it won't rot). I 
still call it a short-term fix, months later. You may want to shim your unit similarly 
until you do the proper fix that you mentioned, replacement of the assembly.  

HTHs

Frank M. 
'89 100Q
'88 Mazda 323 GTX