I had my mechanic install some new shifter bushings on my 97 civic ex, the Energy Suspension shifter stabilizer. It does feel like I can't shift anywhere but a gear, but it didnt' do anything else, and possibly caused new problems.

• There's still a decent amount of lateral play in gear. How can I tighten this up? In neutral its still somewhat loose, the right side (5, Reverse) is stiff to get into(like how it's always been), but the left side (1,2) are still very easy to get into, is this normal? I assumed new bushings would make both sides equal in terms of required effort to push it to that side.

• Also, I could not shift into 1st and 2nd(3,4,5,Reverse were all fine) when I test drove it. The mechanic told me to pop the hood and he loosened some bolt and it allowed me to get back into 1st and 2nd. Where is this bolt? I would like to try to tighten it back up, pictures would be very helpful.

• I now sometimes pop out of 2nd gear (generally at low rpms) never did this until I changed bushings change.

• The shifter still rattles sometimes, I noticed once when I needed to give the car more gas and the shifter when nuts(although it doesn't sound like metal on metal like before but like a deep plastic noise,probably the poly urethane bushing) Is this normal or is this the shifters fault(I'm pretty sure its a generic ebay shifter the previous owner had on)

 

the rear bushing is over-torqued... loosen the 6mm bolts a bit until you get the feel that you like. Your mechanic most likely threw away the metal inserts for the original bushings that you are supposed to re-use.

EDIT: also your rattle is most likely your shifter ****. un-screw it and put a bit of silicone sealer or RTV on the threads and put your **** back on. It will stop the ratllting.

 

sounds to me your mechanic overtightned the bolt and nut that connects the linkage to the shifter, id say, try to loosen them a little, check and see if the bushings are squashed or smashed,they shouldnt be thats why.....

 

anyone can point those bolts to me in a picture please?

 

wheres the bolt i can loosen from under the hood without getting under the car?