CELEBRATING 20 YEARS!

Last weekend my shift cable broke, so I ordered a new one from MikesMontes. I got the cable installed no problem, however when trying to put the car in P or R the cable bunches up rather than pushing the linkage forward. I have tried adjusting the cable with no luck, also none of the column linkage is currently installed.

This is frustrating the hell out of me, hope someone can help!

Sounds like possibly something internally is defective, which broke your cable originally?

The selector lever moves just fine into position by hand, but for some reason the cable is not able to push it forward beyond the Neutral position.

Strange problem. I would suggest to detach the cable from the transmission lever. Then rotate the lever by hand through the positions, P, R, N, D, etc. The lever should rotate easily with a positive detent felt at each position. If the lever is hard to rotate, then something is wrong internal to the trans or the lever shaft is bound up some how. Hope this helps.

How's about the linkage that connect to steering column? Maybe something is binding there...........

The gear selector on the transmission moves just fine.

I have none of the column linkage connected at the moment

Is it possible that the shift lever on the trans is not properly keyed onto the shaft or that it's not the correct shift lever ?

I saved the picture to my computer and exploded the view to try to confirm what I was seeing.

It looks like, to me, that the cable is not lining up straight in the bracket with the point where it connects to the lever. It definitely looks crooked. So, when when you try to move the lever with the handle(normal use), the cable moves straight to begin with but then bends when tension is stronger due to the bracket holding the cable and the end of the cable connection to the trans lever not lining up.

The cable also looks like it should be straighter leading in to the bracket.

I hightly doubt it, I have not touched any of the parts aside from the shift cable personally and the car was one-owner low miles, all original when I bought it. It doesnt seem like something that could be incorrect...

I have not yet removed the new cable from the car but from looking at the old cable I am assuming that the rod at the end of the cable is coming too far out of the center metal shaft inside the dust boot and exposing the cable where it is pliable enough to bend rather than push.


It almost seems like it could be the incorrect cable no allowing enough forward movement before overextending and the length between the clip on the trans and shift lever is very tight. I have been assuming that getting it from Mike's Montes I would be ensured it was the correct part.

I see that there is a lot of debate on the forum about what shift cable may or may not be correct for this application. Does anyone have a confirmed good part number that should work?

Stock shifter and 200-4r, correct? Almost seems too obvious but thought it's worth asking. There are different cables for the 200-4r based on what car/shifter setup you have. I know I got the wrong one from NAPA a few years back when my cable seized up, I think the Olds application. Since then I have a couple correct ones, might look to switch mine again since it "slips" when going through the gears quickly from drive to park. Can turn the column by hand easily, cable or cable connection issue of some sort.

Have you taken the shift plate off and double checked how it's connected at the shifter? In case something is binding or slipped out of place.

Yes, stock shifter and 200-4r.

I have removed and re-installed both ends of the cable from their mounts and observed what appears to be normal operation without binding or slipping up top or in the lower mount, just where the cable bunches up at the gear selector on the trans.

I have ordered an ATP Y239 cable from rock auto to see if that one works any better

Hi have an 87 monte carlo with the same issue. Do you ever fix it? I could really use some help.

Considering the thread is about 7 years ago, I'm assuming it got fixed.

GM p/n for their cable for 200-4R (MW9) is 10026082, but it's discontinued and hard to find new.

For aftermarket, there seems to be only 2 brands.

ATP has Y239, and Pioneer offers CA1102. I cannot speak to the quality of these two companies from personal experience as I've never used aftermarket cables.

You would have to take the boot off to see, but if I were to guess, it appears the cable sheath inside the boot may have broken or have been compromised, basically turning the transmission end of the cable into a wet noodle under pressure. If you couple that with the potential cable stretch that inevitably occurs over time, it just makes things worse. Not saying this is what happened, as there's been no autopsy on any of these issues that I've seen.