Where did my neutral go???

**Drifty Midship** · 25-07-2007, 08:13 PM

WTF!!?!?!
Went to start my car, gearstick is in neutral... car lunges forward with the starter motor firing.
Put handbrake on... starter wont turn engine...
Once going the car drives normally...
I have just fitted a short throw shift kit... new solid brass shifter bushings at the gearbox end and had a starter rebuilt... fitted them all at the same time so not sure what could be causing this.
Also the battery now goes flat in several hours???
Really weird... anyone got any suggestions as to what might be the causes...
Cheers

**30psi 4agte** · 25-07-2007, 09:28 PM

I think they are adjustable shifter linkages arent they ???

Are you sure the shifter is adjusted corectly ?

**Vios-GT_07** · 26-07-2007, 01:35 AM

hm... i hope it's not something internal of the gearbox that's not disengaging the gears properly.. also yea the short throw kit (i assume it's for the AW11) wouldn't do anything to affect how you select the gears, except for that 40% reduction in throw (which in my case, equates to 3mm left right and 5mm up down) ... also the shifter bushings give you a better feel running through the gears and again, should not require any adjustment to the linkages unless they were already in need of adjusting prior to having the shifter bushes installed..

and the battery being dead in several hours, i read in a magazine and another source (twice today), about the AW11's alternators dying and needing a rebuild or replaced at some stage.. http://www.toymods.net/forums/showthread.php?t=25731 this thread is really helpful, lots of pics and good info.. oh yea found the mag, it's the Fast Fours current edition, has a tuning guide for 4A-GE engines..

i had a similar problem a few days back.. started the car, all i heard was a soft whirr.. as if the starter motor wasn't connecting.. 2 minutes later, i panicked as i was late for work, shifted in reverse, started and presto, the car jerked backward.. Neutral and clutch in, and it started normally... NFI if it's just a coincidence, but it hasn't happened again since.. i need to pinpoint this as i'm replacing the alarm system soon (it unlocks itself randomly

) and want to make sure it's not an immobiliser problem.. stupid WA law and crime rate making it compulsary to have them

**Rodger** · 26-07-2007, 12:57 PM

When you pulled off the old shifter off where was the gearbox, in or out of gear?

Can you select all gears without engine running but with clutch engaged?

Does the clutch pedal need adjusting or the M/C is leaking?

A cold clutch can grab if the pressure plate is not moved far enough away from the clutch plate but slips enough when warmed up. It is only milimetres but could be centimeters of clutch pedal travel.

Regard

Rodger

**DX20VT** · 29-07-2007, 08:05 PM

Originally Posted by Vios-GT_07

yea the short throw kit wouldn't do anything to affect how you select the gears,

Lol, quote of the day.

You will have done something wrong.

Changed gears ok,
then you fitted a short shift,
now it doesnt change.

Logic says.........

**Vios-GT_07** · 30-07-2007, 12:41 AM

short throw and short shift kit are two different things...

afaik the short throw is just the shifter lever... where as a short shift kit for a East West setup involves replacing the shifter arms on top of the gearbox, as well as the shifter lever, bearing kit etc etc..

by just replacing the shift lever, and you've hooked up the linkages properly without adjusting anything, it shouldn't do that.. the short throw kit is only longer by a bit at the bottom and shorter by a bit at the top.. (in my case, about 5mm)..

the only thing i can think of is bottom bit is a bit too long, and is "touching" the "floor", in which case you should have trouble shifting gears? but i doubt that's the case as you mentioned that it's fine when the car's started and you're on the move.. ? did you try selecting all gears first then going to neutral, then starting the car? or clutch in (in "neutral") and once car started release clutch to see if it moves, and if it moves, give it some gas to find out which gear you're in? (lunges forward would suggest 1st or second?)

edit : battery going flat = current leak somewhere, or battery's rooted and doesn't hold charge.. multimeter is your friend

**EldarO** · 30-07-2007, 01:31 PM

in WA as far as i know, its not illegal to not have an immobiliser.

its illegal to sell a car without one however.

im with DX20VT, you chucked something out of whack while buggering around with the short shifter.

Elmo.

**Drifty Midship** · 30-07-2007, 04:29 PM

Thanks for the input fellas.
sarvo, I'll disconnect the shifter cables from the box... Put it in neutral by hand ...then try and start it... if still jumps forward then my clutch or gearbox must be stuffed...?!?!!
Does this sound like good logic ...lol

**Vios-GT_07** · 31-07-2007, 01:44 AM

^^

makes sense...

but i don't see why you'd have to.. is the short throw thing touching the floor? did you adjust the linkage when putting it in? also can you engage all gears properly? if so then there's nothing wrong with the shifter...

just had a thought.. does neutral sit in the center naturally or not?