Broken Selector Cable, 1.8L Auto

[epcot pete]

I would like to share a problem I had yesterday. Had been out for afternoon and on dropping someone off, I started engine and tried to engage Drive with no success. The gear selector stick went through PRND without illuminating dash gear indicator and no movement. Called RAC and he found selector cable had broken where it was attached to auto gearbox selector arm. I held foot brake pedal down while he manually selected Drive on the gearbox and shut bonnet allowing me to drive home.

Rang Toyota who wanted £193 for replacement cable and a breaker wanted £115 for used one!

I took off the broken cable connection to the gearbox selector arm and found that the pivot had corroded that much that the nylon/plastic 'banjo' cable end had fractured allowing the retaining end of the cable to pull out - see photos for better understanding. I stripped the pivot down, cleaned all the rust off and managed to close the nylon/plastic 'banjo' and hold it together with a special metal washer that I made, and re-assembled it with grease and it works perfectly. I have added a cable-tie just to ensure that if it did go again the cable-tie would get me home. The gearbox selector arm hardly needs any effort to engage PRND so cable joint should suffice.

I would recommend all owners with similar designed selector cables to give them a good oiling every now and again to save them at least £193!

I did question the Toyota Guy about the excessive cost of what is effectively a two ended cable and he said it was the VAT that always impacts on the price, not Toyotas fault...............

[Konrad C]

Great fix. That is my way of thinking. It is probably more durable now.

The Toyota person you spoke to is talking rubbish! You can find a cable specialist who could make make a similar item for much cheaper. The only is problem is finding one of these companies.

Good to share and advise others too.