6MT shifter not returning to center properly
 

I've noticed recently that my shifter doesn't seem to want to return to center promptly. It will still return but it's slow to get there and has caused me to have issues when upshifting from 2nd to 3rd and downshifting from 5th to 4th. Basically, I feel the shifter hesistate to return to center. All that said, pushing the shifter out of center still requires the same amount of force it always has.

Full disclosure: I was in an accident a few weeks ago where I slipped off the road and hit a chain fence at around 40-60kph. Thankfully, overall damage was relatively minor, I fixed the majority of it for around $1200 by myself. I didn't notice any drivability issues right away following the hit but I noticed the shifting issue about a week ago. It may have started following the accident and I just didn't notice until now so it's possible something was damaged in the accident although I'm just not sure. Either way, just thought it might be worth noting.

Anyways, I'm guessing it has something to do with a shift return spring but thought I'd get input from others on here after describing the problem. If others also suspect a shift return spring, I'm thinking about getting the MTEC shift springs since they aren't too expensive and seem well received but once again, open to other suggestions. I'll also note that I'm due to replace the transmission fluid.. It was due in spring 2017 and it's now fall 2018 and I still haven't gotten around to it...

I'm going to refer you to our transmission specialist @Ultramaroon - :thumbsup:


humfrz

It could be some friction through the rear-shift bushing, I think there is some benefit to cleaning and greasing this part periodically as it probably gets sticky. It levers into the bushing on upshifts.

https://i.imgur.com/LVKNGQB.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/tp1pXpo.jpg

https://i.imgur.com/b41CHVZ.jpg

That happened to me 1-2 years ago. The shifter wouldn't return back to the center when I shift out of gear. Went to get it checked out and it was nothing obvious, besides some rust. Even took the whole thing apart and put it back together (I have the TRD quickshifter bushings).

We ended up spraying it with a ton of WD-40. Load and behold, a week later, the shifter actually re-centered itself without me pushing it to the middle.

@radroach, that rear shifter bushing is nothing more than the rear support for the gearshift lever. That is not the droid you're looking for.

It has nothing to do with shifter "play" but it does limit motion of the entire mechanism.

OP, it is possible that you have some hidden damage due to the accident. If the engine/transmission bounced hard - and it wouldn't take much - the shift lever frame may have been tweaked.

Also, there is a sort of U-joint between the "floor shift control shaft" and the gear selector shaft which is in the transmission. Their naming convention sucks. In this diagram, what should be referred to as a coupling is called the "control shaft."

That pinned joint gets rusty and sticky. It might also be the source of your issue.

https://demos.starbase7.net/t3Portal...01P1600RX.html


https://i.imgur.com/XoJE3uF.jpg

Sorry for bringing this up again. I have the same problem on my 2016 and my brother too on his 2017. I installed the Perrin shifter and it didn't fix the problem at all. I'm just out of the garage for oil change and that and they din't fix it and even charged me even if I'm on extended warranty maybe because I got that Perrin part On? Ridiculous. Im gonna bring them the OEM part tell them to install it and see they trouble is there exactly the same.