Ford Focus Forum banner

Popped out of gear?

1.4K views 5 replies 4 participants last post by  KogboxKing  
#1 ·
I have a 2005 ZX3 5spd with around 68k on it. I just picked it up 2 weeks ago. The car seems to run like a top and I have loved it so far.

Well today driving to work I was overtaking somebody so I could make an upcoming exit. The revs were between 5-6 grand or so. I was shifting from 2nd to 3rd I believe... and when I let the gulch out and gave gas it just reved! no gear? Thought I just missed (which I don't really do often) and felt like I had to pull it back out of gear then push it back in... same thing! After the 3rd or 4th time it finally found the gear and was fine. Finished driving to work with no issues at all.

Then at lunch I was rolling to a stop sign in either 1st or 2nd and I got a slight grinding noise and it popped out. went right back in and drove fine.

Any ideas what's happening? just got this car and cant really afford any major bills!

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
Two scenarios.

Your clips are spring loaded on the cable ends, where you need two people. One to push and hold the adjuster while you center the shifter, then they release it. For both cables.

Or your cable adjusters snap in place when you press them, center the shifter, then snap them back.

It's quite easy once you find the orange clips on the ends.
 
#5 ·
Thanks guys. I drove the car home last night and back to work this morning with no issues. It's a roughly 90 mile trip. maybe this weekend I'll look into adjusting the cables. are there any threads on how to do this and what should I be looking for/ trying to achieve?

Thanks!
 
#6 ·
DON'T mess with the cable adjustment!..Cables do not wear to the point that they need adjustment. First..check the CABLE ENDS to see that they are not soft or worn..if they are you will loose shift movement and pop out of gear Second..check dogbone and engine mounts..if worn then the engine will rock too much on accel and decel and tug on the shift cables.