Manual shifter cable broke. (9176272,6843404) Why did this happen?

[amblerman]

Hi Folks.

1999 s70 5 speed.

In early Dec 2023, I replaced the shifter assembly (from a 1998 850) because the knob self destructed (all the soft touch rubber fell off).

Up until last night, everything seemed fine. Shifted fine. felt smooth than original after cleaning and greasing, etc.
Then last night I got a call from my wife letting me know that the shifter doesn't work anymore. She said it felt like it was no longer connected. Turns out, it was still in first gear so I was able to drive it home at 20 mph.
Today I took thinks apart and found this.

cable.jpg (139.68 KiB) Viewed 1119 times

It finally frayed enough so that the remaining strands just bend instead of moving the cable and actuating the gearbox. The shifter just bounced around and was clearly not switching gears anymore.
This is the cable that connects under the shifter.
There was no visible damage to the cable in Dec when I replaced the shifter assembly.

My current theory on how this happened is that when I did the job in the car, I might have put an extra twist in the cable which introduced some strain which caused fatigue over the last 4 months.

It's obvious that this whole assembly was pre-assembled and then fed from the interior, through the firewall and then attached to the transmission during initial assembly. It's on convenient to work on in the car, but I did it and it seemed to work fine right up until last night.

Does any have any other theories why this would just fail in 4 months after replacing the shifter? It was just a direct replacement and there seemed to be no adjustment necessary or even possible.

And finally. What the heck do I do now? These seem to be NLA parts!.

I think any 850 manual cables will also fit a 1999 based on the part number. .
Latest part number is 9176272 which superseded 6843404.

[abscate]

I’ve got a set up in Albany. You can get the car into second and use it around town a bit easier than first, 0-30 mph

I think it got a kink in it somehow, that will break it fast

[amblerman]

I can see a kink causing that.
I am convinced I should not have done the job in car. Should have taken cables out in the first place.

PM sent

[amblerman]

I would definitely be interested in the spare set you have. I sent a PM and I'd like to discuss what you'd like for them.
Thanks
-A

[abscate]

Pm sent with my mobile. I’m not sure next time I’ll be up in Albany as SWMBO is getting a knee replaced next week and I need to be near home. Check that model year 2000 shift cables will fit

[amblerman]

Pm sent with my mobile. I’m not sure next time I’ll be up in Albany as SWMBO is getting a knee replaced next week and I need to be near home. Check that model year 2000 shift cables will fit

As I mentioned in the text, I hope the knee replacement goes smoothly.

For anyone else reading this, it turns out that model year 2000 used a totally different shifter assembly and therefore used different cables as far as I can tell.
part numbers (9176272,6843404) for 1999 s70 as well as many of the later 850s
part numbers 8689482/9463500 for 2000

Shoot.

[abscate]

Let’s see if a wholesale swap of shifter and cables will work.

Thanks for part numbering the title, dear to my heart.

[foggydogg]

For anyone else reading this, it turns out that model year 2000 used a totally different shifter assembly and therefore used different cables as far as I can tell.
part numbers (9176272,6843404) for 1999 s70 as well as many of the later 850s
part numbers 8689482/9463500 for 2000

Shoot.

Call or text Robert, he may have a set, but if not, when there is some urgency he usually goes straight to a junkyard and gets the stuff. He's in CA now, plenty of P80s resting in the sun out there.

[abscate]

Here are the -1999 and -2000 controls