Shiter rattles

[nibbes123]

I have the shifter rattle at over 3000 rpm. Replaced the shifter lever socket with the new kit from Auto Ricambi, have the anti rattle clip on but not new still the old one. Any idea what is causing this rattle?

Thanks
Nick

[So Cal Mark]

did you replace the pieces in between the upper and lower levers?

[nibbes123]

Yes the spring, small round cup, plastic cup with three holes lower cup.

[nibbes123]

Does anybody have a solution.

Thanks
Nick

[aj81spider]

Where is the rattle coming from. What Mark was referring to was the pieces that hold the upper shifter to the lower shifter (chrome to the rod coming out of the transmission). What you changed was the socket at the bottom of the shifter.

There are only a couple of places it can rattle. The bottom seems less likely as there is a spring and ball that are pretty well held in place. Have someone else drive and listen carefully to where it is coming from. On many cars it comes from the joint between the chrome extension and the lower shifter. If it is from there you could try a new bushing kit, or you could put a set screw to hold everything tight.

[ScotcH]

Don't eat so many beans ... the shitter will rattle much less then!

[nibbes123]

I have the short shifter on which has two hex screws to hold it on the shifter.

[bradartigue]

Do you have a shift knob with a FIAT logo crest on top? Because those rattle like mad, it will make you think the transmission is coming loose. Throw it in the trash and get a ball shifter from an old Spider.

[vandor]

The short shifters often rattle, I don't think there is anything one can do. We experimented on a friend's car with different short shifters, etc, and could not stop the rattling. I think the original shifter extension with the rubber grommets acts as a shock absorber.
Remember, the transmission is bolted directly to the engine, so there are no rubber mounts to stop any vibration.

[nibbes123]

Ok , thanks for all the input.

Nick

[toplessexpat]

I stopped the shifter knob with the fiat logo on it from rattling by stuffing a 3M ear plug up it, and then screwing it back on... not sure what was causing the rattle, and whether this has stopped it or just dampened the sound sufficiently that I can't hear it. Either way, I'm happy.

http://www.amazon.com/3M-1100-Foam-Plug ... B0002YK9YG

.... $20, and enough for 400 shifters

(ok - so I used one from a pair I got given on a flight and hadn't used).

A

[nibbes123]

Too funny.

[spiderdan]

When I had my trany done 13 years ago, my mechanic installed a short chrome "shiter" and a new wood Fiat logo knob. That knob would rattle but not consistently. Seemed if I tightened a bit while driving it would stop...for a while...then back again.
Finally took it off, turned it upside down and squirted a blob of clear bathroom silicone caulk down the whole.
That did it, no more rattle.
I guess you could say I solved my rattle by "caulking my knob on my shiter"

[toplessexpat]

YOU could say that

[sptcoupe]

I have four versions of short shifters I've collected over the years, all of them really well made, just sitting in the garage. This collection includes an original shifter cut short and threaded so we could use FIAT original bushings. I've had all of them on the coupe and spider, and have never been able to stop any of them from rattling - especially above about 4000 rpms. I don't understand the dynamics at all, but shortened shifters just rattle. Go back to the original, and the rattle stops. Not worth the annoyance for me, so I just use the stock sticks which work fine and don't slow me down at all.