Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 I parked my 1990 Buick Reatta, everything was great . When I restarted and tried to drive away, the transmission level was disengaged. I had just installed a new radiator, last weekend, so I added transmission fluid on a hunch, but nothing happened. My initial thought was the linkage had come loose, either on the transmission, or the gear shiftier. After adding the transmission fluid with zero changes or results, I am sure it is the linkage. Has anyone else ever had this occur? If so, which end came loose, and how did you fix it ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
88redGG Posted February 22, 2018 Share Posted February 22, 2018 The same thing happened to me about a year ago on my '88 Reatta. Parked it, went in to work, came out 9 hours later, cranked her up, went to put in gear and the automatic shifter was loose and would not move to another gear. I had to have it towed ($120) to a great mechanic that had worked on my car previously and he said what happened was that a plastic clip that connected the cable to the shifter (my auto verbiage may be incorrect) broke and to get to it and replace it would mean pulling the transmission. So, about $1000 and a week later, the red monster was back on the road. That was a very expensive piece of plastic. I hope yours is an easy fix and less expensive. Tricia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barney Eaton Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 My granddaughter just had this happen on a 50K Buick Rendezvous......towing, part and repair was $400. Whatya gonna do..........plastic parts break and they don't give you any warning. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 I would look under the hood first to see if the cable (3) has come loose from the gear selector arm (5) on the transmission. Then check the cable where it connects to the shifter inside the console. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 This was a problem for a while a few years back and then I didn't hear anything about it. For most of the guys it was #5 in Ronnie's picture. I believe the quick fix was a zip tie. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
waltmail Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 10 hours ago, DAVES89 said: This was a problem for a while a few years back and then I didn't hear anything about it. For most of the guys it was #5 in Ronnie's picture. I believe the quick fix was a zip tie. Very common occurrence. Occasionally they just pop off at the under hood connection. Pop it back on and if it happens again use DAVES89 suggestion. I get the feeling some mechanics is making a killing charging huge $$$$ for what is probably a 10 cent fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Can reach on the driver's side near the firewall. Under the cruise control linkage. 3 pops off of 5. Usually can pop back on to get home. I wrapped some safety wire around mine but a ty wrap should work 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 It is very common for the plastic end on the shift cable to come off the ball socket on the lever. There are four small tabs associated with the plastic end and these are supposed to hold the cable end so the ball does not let loose but that plastic gets brittle and breaks and doesn't lock the ball in place. Wire or a tywrap can work but it cannot be too tight as when the lever turns the angle of the cable head changes quite a lot. there are replacement ends available on ebay but they are about $ 30 A much easier fix is to remove the lever as it is held on with one nut and then remove the ball stud and put a bolt in place with either a self locking nut or double nut the bolt. You could also drill out both the lever and cable end to 1/4 inch. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAVES89 Posted February 23, 2018 Share Posted February 23, 2018 Jim has the repair I was trying to remember. I knew some guys did the zip tie, but there was a better way and this is it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 2/22/2018 at 3:50 PM, 88redGG said: The same thing happened to me about a year ago on my '88 Reatta. Parked it, went in to work, came out 9 hours later, cranked her up, went to put in gear and the automatic shifter was loose and would not move to another gear. I had to have it towed ($120) to a great mechanic that had worked on my car previously and he said what happened was that a plastic clip that connected the cable to the shifter (my auto verbiage may be incorrect) broke and to get to it and replace it would mean pulling the transmission. So, about $1000 and a week later, the red monster was back on the road. That was a very expensive piece of plastic. I hope yours is an easy fix and less expensive. Tricia Thanks for your response Tricia... as you can see by the date, I am just learning to use this site... I am replying to yours, because I found the same thing you described. After sleeping on the problem, I decided it had to be something simple, like a broken linkage connection... I used a flashlight to locate the piece that came loose, and 2 tie wraps to reconnect it . It works fine ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 2/23/2018 at 2:05 PM, Jim said: It is very common for the plastic end on the shift cable to come off the ball socket on the lever. There are four small tabs associated with the plastic end and these are supposed to hold the cable end so the ball does not let loose but that plastic gets brittle and breaks and doesn't lock the ball in place. Wire or a tywrap can work but it cannot be too tight as when the lever turns the angle of the cable head changes quite a lot. there are replacement ends available on ebay but they are about $ 30 A much easier fix is to remove the lever as it is held on with one nut and then remove the ball stud and put a bolt in place with either a self locking nut or double nut the bolt. You could also drill out both the lever and cable end to 1/4 inch. Jim, thank you for your answer... I am just learning this site... I figured out the linkage had come loose, just as you described ! I appreciate your response and your knowledge. thank you , Tommy Hooks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 2/23/2018 at 10:36 AM, padgett said: Can reach on the driver's side near the firewall. Under the cruise control linkage. 3 pops off of 5. Usually can pop back on to get home. I wrapped some safety wire around mine but a ty wrap should work I'm loving the responses you folks sent me.... I am learning ... your response was exactly where I found the problem .... I used a couple tie wraps ... so easy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 2/23/2018 at 2:05 PM, Jim said: It is very common for the plastic end on the shift cable to come off the ball socket on the lever. There are four small tabs associated with the plastic end and these are supposed to hold the cable end so the ball does not let loose but that plastic gets brittle and breaks and doesn't lock the ball in place. Wire or a tywrap can work but it cannot be too tight as when the lever turns the angle of the cable head changes quite a lot. there are replacement ends available on ebay but they are about $ 30 A much easier fix is to remove the lever as it is held on with one nut and then remove the ball stud and put a bolt in place with either a self locking nut or double nut the bolt. You could also drill out both the lever and cable end to 1/4 inch. Thank you Jim ! I've owned my Reatta for about 10 years, but I am new to this site... I got this fixed, just as you described.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy Hooks 1990 Reatta Posted June 12, 2018 Author Share Posted June 12, 2018 On 2/22/2018 at 7:58 PM, Ronnie said: I would look under the hood first to see if the cable (3) has come loose from the gear selector arm (5) on the transmission. Then check the cable where it connects to the shifter inside the console. Thanks to everyone that responded to my problem.... I am excited now ! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronnie Posted June 12, 2018 Share Posted June 12, 2018 Glad to hear you got it fixed. Thanks for letting us know. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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