Table of contents: Removal 🠇 Refitting 🠇
Removal
1. Remove the air cleaner assembly as described in the relevant Part of Chapter 4.
2. Move the selector lever in the car to the "1" (rearmost) position.
3. Using a large flat-bladed screwdriver, carefully lever the selector inner cable end fitting off the transmission bellcrank balljoint, whilst ensuring that the lever does not move.
4. Unlock the outer cable end fitting at the bracket on the transmission.
5. Extract the circlip securing the selector outer cable to the transmission bracket (see illustration).
3.5. Extract the circlip (3) securing the selector outer cable to the transmission bracket
6. Chock the rear wheels then jack up the front of the vehicle and support it on axle stands (see "Jacking and vehicle support").
7. Remove the exhaust system front pipe and heat shield as described in the relevant Part of Chapter 4.
8. Detach the selector cable from the bracket on the transmission tunnel.
9. From inside the car undo the two screws securing the selector lever knob to the lever (see illustration). Depress the knob detent button, then rotate the knob through 90° anticlockwise, lift the assembly up and rotate it back 90° clockwise to release the detent button from the selector lever pushrod.
3.9. Selector lever knob retaining screws (7)
10. Remove the gear selection indicator from the console by releasing the clip at the front and disengaging the two rear locating tags.
11. Remove the gear selector console then unbolt the selector lever assembly.
12. Release the selector cable from any clips in the engine compartment, then withdraw the assembly from the car.
Refitting
13. Ensuring that the cable is correctly routed, manoeuvre the lever and cable assembly back into position. Secure the assembly, refit the console and clip the selection indicator back into position.
14. Check that the selector lever in the car is still in the "1" position and the transmission selector lever is fully up against its top stop.
15. Secure the selector cable to the bracket on the transmission tunnel.
16. Engage the outer cable with the transmission bracket, then refit the inner cable end fitting to the bellcrank balljoint whilst ensuring that the selector levers do not move.
17. Refit the circlip securing the outer cable to the transmission bracket.
18. Lock the outer cable end fitting at the transmission by turning the outer cable a quarter turn. In this position the coloured marks on the cable and end fitting should be in alignment.
19. Keeping the detent button depressed, slide the knob onto the selector lever then, exerting light downward pressure on the knob, rotate the knob through 90°, release the button, then turn the knob back 90° until the detent button is in its correct position. Refit the two knob retaining screws and tighten them securely. Check the operation of the selector lever detent button before proceeding.
20. Check the operation of the selector mechanism then refit the heat shield, exhaust front pipe and air cleaner.