[Mk2] [Turbo] Gear lever not returning to centre itself

[toecutter]

My gear lever doesn't return to center itself from fifth or reverse, have to move it over manually.

Box is E153 with LSD. Filled with MT90. Didn't do this until I fitted new engine with front and rear poly mounts, brass bushes in shifter cable ends, rotated cube to non worn side.

Is there a spring or something that gets worn out? Or been caused by one of the things I have done?

[jimGTS]

check the spring is positioned correctly on the shifter unit.
may require removing the tunnel, though you may see via removing just the gaitor.

[jimGTS]

though i suspect yours is more floppier more than mine , i increased the tension on the spring so the shifter felt more solid...
(just slid some vac hoses over the arms)

but heres a pic so you can see how its all attached

[mrfil13]

I had a similar issue on my first mr2. If I remember rightly, on the gearbox side of the gear selector arms there's a square cube.

By pot luck we removed that, it was gunked up. Cleaned, refit and worked as it should.

Going back 8 years ago so can't remember any more detail but someone else maybe able to help with locating the cube.

[toecutter]

Cheers for pic + info, will try new spring from Toyota and add hose if needed.

[toecutter]

New spring made no difference, and it's that stiff hose wouldn't help.

Only other thing I can think of is if either of the shift arms were bent during engine removal/refitting but don't know how to tell what angle they should be at.

[Quigonjay]

does the car actually drive fine? goes in too all the gears ok?

[bobhatton]

Remove the cables from the gearbox and see if you have the same problem, if so it is the cables if not it is the gearbox.

[jimGTS]

New spring made no difference, and it's that stiff hose wouldn't help.

Only other thing I can think of is if either of the shift arms were bent during engine removal/refitting but don't know how to tell what angle they should be at.

i didnt suggest buying a new spring, but simply to see it was sat correctly.

definitely look at the gear linkages gearbox end in that case.

[toecutter]

does the car actually drive fine? goes in too all the gears ok?

Yes issue is coming out of fifth to 4th or 3rd.

Remove the cables from the gearbox and see if you have the same problem, if so it is the cables if not it is the gearbox.

Will need to try that.

i didnt suggest buying a new spring, but simply to see it was sat correctly.

definitely look at the gear linkages gearbox end in that case.

I thought I may as well fit one whilst I had it apart, cleaned and greased linkage at same time.