Ever since I got my car in late October, I always thought the shifting was a little weird. I would miss shifts just trying to get into fifth and I had a rough time just pushing it up in to place. Figuring it was just weather related considering I have been putting most of the miles on in the dead of a Michigan winter, I ignored it and tried warming it up a bit (shifting more). The other day I decided to take a look at the shifter my removing the plastic around it. I didnt want to remove the shifter boot because I read about how hard it was. Here's what I found and hopefully my pictures work...



To remedy the situation, I grabbed an exacto blade and a pair of wire cutter pliers and cut that tag off that was interfering with my shifting. Filed it down a bit to make it smooth and vaccuumed the blue dust up, put a little grease on it and its as smooth as ever!
Problem solved.

Anyways, if you feel like shifting is a little goofy, take the time check this out. No idea what caused it but an easy enough fix.
To access this area without disassembling your whole shifter, just remove the silver change pocket by pulling, remove the two bolts revealed (careful because the "nuts" they go to are just clamps and can slide off), then pull up on the plastic that surrounds the entire shifter assembly.

 

I have been having problems with my 2010 manual, but tbe dealership could not duplicate problem. I found another such set of photos w/another owner's ingenous fix that I will look for now and post. I will take all of them to the dealership to prove that we are not all nuts. Is yours an E85 by any chance? Trying to find cars having my issue. Car insists gas is E85 so keeps throwing code P0172. Instead of updating the software, TAC says no fix. Frustrating, timeconsuming and wasting 25% more on gas.

addendum: found the other helpful thread pics and info (and zip tie fix on one with pic, p. 4)

hey 5speed guys....get in here!!!
http:/mchevyhhr.net/forums/showthread.php?t=19843&page=4

 

no mine is not an E85. It's an SS.
also your link does not seem to be working
EDIT: i believe its a mobile link. just deleted the m and it worked so nevermind

 

Yup. That was one of my many problems as well. But i had gm just replaced the whole shifter assembly to fix it for me.

 

glad im not the only one. can anyone think of a cause for this? I didnt see something that could do this much damage

 

Agreed - there must be a cause. The pics on this thread and others look very similar - debris, cracking, looseness etc. Like a mad rat or child with a hammer got to it. A cheap assembly is obviously one factor (it even looks cheap GM) - which is very dangerous to us all. I cannot tell you how many times I have struggled to get in gear with engine and rear drivers both going beserk. So when dealers write "Cannot duplicate problem" on this, that means a couple test miles, but no lookee see? My work order does not indicate it was checked - and I specifically mentioned feeling jaggedness and sharpness while struggling. I want to take a lookee see before it goes in and take photos for myself and to share. How easy is it to access? Best tool to open it open without causing damage?

And ....speaking of shifting woes, has anyone experienced the surprise of having the top half of the stock chrome topped plastic shifter knob come off while shifting? Two (2) new cars, three (3) times and replacements. The ball, stick etc. must be replaced because they come as one piece.

Please be sure to report these problems and others to NHTSA on its complaint link so that we can effect recall action.

 

if something should happen to my shifter again I'll be getting myself a nice birthday present from the likes of TWM. Thats for darn sure.

 

Looking at the 2 pictures above, I don't see any grease or lube.
Could that be the cause?

 

there was "some" on the knuckle but the part causing all the interference should not have had grease on it. it was some sort of tag on the side of the blue part that got worn away and mangled.

 

Mine had grease but the main cause is not pulling up the shifter to go in reverse. You can pop it in without doing that but itll cause shavings. Now that i have been the only driver, i dont have stuff in mine. But then i have had like three new shifters installed in 25k miles due to cords breaking. Lol