I get alot of noise from the shifter in my 2003 5 speed in 5th gear. If I pull or push on the handle slightly, it goes away. It is just loud enough to be annoying. Is anybody else having this issue? Has someone come up with a fix for it?

Don't get me wrong, I love manual transmissions... I don't even own an automatic. But this thing shifts horribly. Worse than my '91 Ram w/a cast iron "granny" four speed!

Still wouldn't trade it for an automatic

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2003 Freedom 5-speed

Had exact same problem - mine was making really annoying noises in 2nd and 5th. There is a tension spring inside the gear shift knob that holds it in place. Even though it is under tension, certain vribrations make the thing produce some really annoying noises. My solution was to take the gear shift knob off, remove the spring, squirt some silicon caulking into the shift knob, put spring back in and re-attach shift knob. Once the caulking sets up, it acts like a little rubber damper and complety stops the spring from vibrating. Try it, you will be surprised how much more quiet it is.

Edit: also, if it's shifting really ruff, take it in and have it checked. The Libby is no race car, but mine shifts pretty darned smoothly if you dont rush it when shifting gears. The manual trans in the Libby does not like to be rushed

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Steve

I have the exact same issue with mine. Noisy rattle like sound in 2nd and 5th that goes away when holding the shifter. Only happens when pressing on the gas to accelerate or go up hill. I'll look for that spring. Thanks for the info.

OK, good stuff. Tomarrow I'll try grabing the shifter handle thru the boot - not the knob. See what happens... thanks.

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2003 Freedom 5-speed

Great for bringing this up, had the rattle in 5th gear for a couple of months now and did not know what to do.
Dealer had a look and found something broke off the propshaft but after replacing the propshaft the rattle was still there..... until I read this post.
I took the knob of the shifter, wrapped some kitchen foil oround the spring and popped it back into the knob and it is totaly silent again.
I did not go for greaze because it will run all over the place when the interior gets hot in summer.

Great advice, thanks!

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The most repeated sentence I heard from my dealer was "I'm sorry YOU are not happy with our service" so it was still my fault.