Anyone know how to access the shift linkage (on a manual 4 cylinder). The manual say to remover the cup holder panel before removing the boot panel. There are no instruction to say HOW to remover the cupholder panel. It shows where the tabs are but not how to access them.

 

No linkage. Cables.
Yes, you would need to pull up the console center which is usually just clipped on. Pull straight up, but try not to break the clips which will happen if you pull it up sideways, and beneath the shifter boot you are likely to see some (2) screw/bolts that hold the ashtray assem in place.

 

OK - got the cup holder panel and shoft boot panel off. I can see on the main shft cable that the black plastic piece in front of the rubber boot is broken. Anyone know how to replace this part? If it is part of the shift cable (which it appears to be), how do you replace the shift cable? The instruction manual says you have to remove the entire dashboard. Is this true? It seems rediculous to have to do that amount of work for a shift cable. Any thoughts?

I should note that the car is drivable, but the linkage doesn't feel very good. I'm sure that is a result of the lack of stability for the cable by that black piece that holds it in place.

 

Yeah, I'm sure the cable and end links are all one unit and has to be replaced that way.

As for taking the dash out? I'm not sure, but there must be a way of pulling a new one through by connecting it to the old one as it is extracted, similar to how electricians use a stiff wire to pull new cable into an already closed wall.