Quarter in gear shifter?

Kevin0323 · 02-16-2006, 07:19 AM

Check this out,

I accidentally dropped one of the screws for re-installing my ECU into my gear shifter. (automatic) I fished it out with a pair of plyers. While I was in there, I noticed a quarter wedged perfectly underneith the gear shifter. I took it out. It's slightly concaved. Now when I start my car the dash says that I'm in first gear no matter what gear I'm in. The funny thing is, that the dash lights for my gears have never lit up before. They were never on.

I am pretty sure that I didn't knock anything out of place or disconnect anything. What do you guys think!?

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

Perhaps a DPO had put the quarter in there as a temporary fix or something? Or maybe you jiggled something when you were going after the screw and there's a loose connection somewhere?

I took the boot off of my (manual) 83 and found a dead mouse. He hadn't done much damage at all, but he had a little bit of a nest built up. Very gross, to say the least.

PhillysMostWntd · 02-16-2006, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bryanthompson
Perhaps a DPO had put the quarter in there as a temporary fix or something? Or maybe you jiggled something when you were going after the screw and there's a loose connection somewhere?

I took the boot off of my (manual) 83 and found a dead mouse. He hadn't done much damage at all, but he had a little bit of a nest built up. Very gross, to say the least.

did the stink lead you to remove it or did you luckily get to it before it started to rott??

thats a funny and gross story.

bryanthompson · bryanthompson's Garage

By the time I got to it, it was pretty much mummified. The only thing that really stank was the nest he was building... that's one of the most awful smells ever. As soon as I realized what it was, a shop-vac took care of it before I got all gaggy

The only reason I found it was that I was trying to fix the sloppiness in the shifter linkage. With the boot and rubber inside secured, I couldn't smell it.

CJFusco · CJFusco's Garage

wow, i can't imagine how that dead mouse wouldn't reek!

Eldorado · 02-16-2006, 10:29 PM

dead mice generally dont smell all that bad... and if they do, it wouldn't be for long... there's not much "meat" on them to rot away...

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Kevin0323
Check this out,

I accidentally dropped one of the screws for re-installing my ECU into my gear shifter. (automatic) I fished it out with a pair of plyers. While I was in there, I noticed a quarter wedged perfectly underneith the gear shifter. I took it out. It's slightly concaved. Now when I start my car the dash says that I'm in first gear no matter what gear I'm in. The funny thing is, that the dash lights for my gears have never lit up before. They were never on.

I am pretty sure that I didn't knock anything out of place or disconnect anything. What do you guys think!?

Pretty sure the quarter was stopping the electrical contact in the shifter base (passenger side of shifter) from transmitting the signal for the gear selection indicator.

Kevin0323 · 02-17-2006, 07:10 AM

Thank you livewirevoodoo! That's what I am thinking as well. I am going to clean the contacts on the gear shifter when I get a chance. Maybe I can get this thing working.

Kevin0323 · 02-18-2006, 09:58 AM

Ever since putting my ECU back in and taking that quarter out, my alarm doesn't work and the door buzzer doesn't work.

Eldorado · 02-19-2006, 08:38 PM

i think you've found the reason for the quarter being there

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

Questionable.

IIRC, the shifter base wiring should only be for the tach indicator (passenger side of shifter) and the sensor to make sure the gear selector is in Park during ignition (front of shifter base). As a side note, on autos, this wire coming loose, etc, will display a No Start Condition if not connected.

Should be nothing wired to the alarm. Door buzzer I'm not 100% sure (check wiring diagram), but I don't believe it shifter wiring is connected to door buzzer either.

Didnt you have another post mentioning you were taking the DME out to have your brother solder it, or you found moisture in the DME case?
Much more likely the alarm issue is related to that (it's piggybacked directly to the DME) rather than the 25 cent gear shift solution.

Kevin0323 · 02-20-2006, 07:05 AM

I figured out the issue with the dash light. The automatic transmission has a little slider (the best way I can describe it) that slides along with your gear shift to tell the dash what gear you're in. Mine has always been disconnected from the shifter and when I was in there digging out the quarter I bumped it into 1st gear. When I first purchased the car the slider was at the D possition and the light on the dash doesn't come on when you are in drive I always assumed that it never worked. So this whole time the slider was in D and is not connected to the shifter so it's never shown anything else. I will hook it back up to the shifter when I have time.

The door buzzer was a coincidence and just happened to be on the fritz.

Unfortunately my alarm still doesn't work. This may be related to the ECU though. There is a black metal bracket with wires plugged into it that attaches to the ECU when it's put back together. What is this for?

Thank you.

eighty911nut · 02-20-2006, 06:05 PM

Put a fifty-cent piece back in instead of the quarter; you may even pick up some horsepower...

DumasDemon84 · 02-20-2006, 08:24 PM

Kevin now what you need is the contact spring (part #94461362101) that connects the the shifter to the slide relay. So the D isn't suppose to light up? All mine light up except D. Good Luck with the rest.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

If the contact spring is installed correctly, and all bulbs are working, all gears should light up.

Kevin0323 · 02-21-2006, 08:10 AM

Thanks DumasDemon84 I see it in the catalog.
How much do you think they'll charge me for this part at the dealership?

I'm actually glad that D and P don't light up on the dash. The lights are extremely bright in all other gears and it would be distracting during driving.

livewirevoodoo · livewirevoodoo's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Kevin0323
How much do you think they'll charge me for this part at the dealership?

Pelican lists it for $5. Plus shipping. And its special order. Call a dealer's parts dept. and get a price. Will still be special order, but you won't be paying for shipping.