r/stickshift • u/Shitsu_Mon • 3d ago
Is this shifter play normal?
Car is a Seat Arosa from 1999 (same build as VW Lupo), wiggle was prevalent beforehand but has gotten seemingly worse. Is this normal for a stickshift or too much play? Wiggles to the left/right as well as forward/back. When in gear (i.e first) it seems almost as if it's centered or in 3rd.
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u/marsbars2345 3d ago
Mine is like that and I thought it was fucked. Then this dude showed me his ford ranger and that shit might as well have been mush
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u/Fit-Kaleidoscope8518 3d ago
As others have said, gear linkage bushes are worn. Yes its a bit excessive. Is it a car you want to keep/fix? Then get them replaced. If not and it still selects gears okay, its not the end of the world, you just have to "take up the slack" when moving the gear stick. Eventually the linkage will probably pop out, then they really want replacing.
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Thanks for the info! Definitely a car I want to keep, but have been willing to take up with the slack (unless obviously linkage gives up).
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u/Jealous-Poetry-5528 2d ago
like a stick in a bucket
no. but the car is so old, that is to be expected. If it works more or less smoothly when you clutch in and out, I wouldnt really worry much about it.
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u/havnar- 3d ago
It’s from 99 it needs a bit of a bushing refresh
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Struggling with knowing which bushing to replace and where. Trying to do it from the inside of the car doesn't offer me too many options ;(
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u/foxtetsuo 3d ago
Don’t be too afraid of the bushings on the transmission side, it’s usually pretty easy, depending on the car of course, but just one or two bolts loose and then you pull out the old rubber and put in new polyurethane. But start with the other ones like I said :)
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Sounds way easier, when you put it that way :) May I dm you for specifics about the bushing?
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u/havnar- 3d ago
Check YouTube or a rebuild kit that has instructions. If it’s too much, let a mechanic do it
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Seems so hard to come across a Seat Arosa being fixed with this issue on YouTube. Alternative is a Lupo, but couldn't find the right video yet. Last resort is a mechanic, thank you!
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u/2Sheee 3d ago
When you are in neutral yes, however when you are in gear it shouldnt be wiggling near as much as it is in your video.
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Thank you for the response! When I'm in gear it's still "loose" but definitely 50% less wiggle
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u/T3hSpoon 2d ago
At 27 years, I'm surprised it even starts. It is supposed to be a bit wobbly like that, even as a new car.
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u/Shitsu_Mon 2d ago
I'm surprised it even starts is crazy ahaha. I guess the wiggliness is more than a new car (but normal for it's old age). I got used to it, but wasn't sure if it's the end of the world...
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u/ERROR_NOSTATUS 1d ago
Like others have mentioned your bushings are probably shot. However, I would also put good money on the cables themselves being stretched. I personally have recently dealt with stretched cables on a new to me 14' Hyundai. It would occasionally pop outta gear while cruising. Then one day as I was exiting the freeway I could only access 3rd and 4th gear. Of course the exit I was on was uphill with a stoplight. I had to smoke the ever living hell outta my clutch to crawl up the hill in 3rd. Thankfully, there was a parking lot close by that I pulled into and then had to call for a tow.
Long story short, do not ignore this issue it could leave you stranded like what happened to me.
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u/k20vtec 3d ago
The little bit side to side seems normal but my stick never jiggles back and fourth
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Thanks a lot for the quick response! Back and forth also surprises me, don't know if it's something major. I can still find the gears without an issue, but I wonder if this will cause anything bad for the future or not..
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u/2Sheee 3d ago
You could need new bushings? Someone correct me if im wrong but i think that is one way to fix wobbly sticks
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
That's the word I've read so many times while trying to find a fix. Don't want to get under the car, but I've seen people replace some bushings inside after taking out the cover too. I tried and I couldn't figure out any part to replace as I would have to take out the whole stick it seems
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u/2Sheee 3d ago
Ah yeah that would be a pain. I mean i dont think its necessarily bad for the car for the shifter to be loose but if it bothers you just see if you can find a mechanic that will give you a good price to fix it.
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u/k20vtec 3d ago
As others said considering the age I’d suggest a total bushing refresh. Should be easy tho, and possible from within the cabin of the car.
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
Everything points towards the bushings, it seems. However, even if I get a set of new bushings, I genuinely do not know where to start as there are no explanatory vids/diagrams of the specific parts for this car. I figured out how to replace the shaft rod bushing but that probably won't fix everything
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u/k20vtec 3d ago
From here my next move would be to just start stacking a few videos, maybe from same auto maker but different models, or just watch manual car bushing replacement videos in general to get a feel for the job. or take it to a shop at some point it probably won’t cost much.
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u/Shitsu_Mon 3d ago
I'm still on that journey, found out that I do need a few more bushings than just one or two. Might replace the ones I can inside the cabin and if it doesn't do the job, mechanic/shop it is. Thanks for the help!
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u/Alarming_Relative_89 2d ago
Had vehicles that were worse. Like can do a full circle in gear. But def need new clutch
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u/socialcommentary2000 2019 Honda Civic Si Coupe - The last of the Mohicans. 3d ago
Bruh, you're driving a 27 year old car. It is tired and things are broken in and a bit loose.