Bent spoiler

[MFozz]

When I was covering my 2000S before parking it for the winter, I noticed the spoiler is slightly bent. I remember seeing a post on this forum about someone else experiencing the same thing, but can't find it now.

Has anyone else had this happen? About 6" in from the right hand site theres a warped or bent spot... Almost looks like someone tried to pry it open. I'm almost positive that's not the case though as I never leave this car parked anywhere... Any ideas?

[dsallean]

Sorry to respond on this old thread but I was searching to see if anyone else has had this problem. Drove my car this morning and noticed the spoiler bent up on the right side. I am pretty sure it has not been like that before. Dropped it off for an inspection this morning but will raise the spoiler and take a look at it when I get the car back. I hope it's a simple fix and not that someone was jacking with my car.

[Disaster]

Is the fender/taillight moved in a little and the spoiler edge is hitting it? Interference is the only thing I could think of that would cause that.

[dsallean]

Originally Posted by Disaster

Is the fender/taillight moved in a little and the spoiler edge is hitting it? Interference is the only thing I could think of that would cause that.

It could be. I will have to look a little closer but because of a problem when I got my car I didn't think about it...

My day just got worse as I picked up the car from the monkeys at the state inspection place and now my car won't shift into second or fourth or sixth!

[particlewave]

Originally Posted by dsallean

It could be. I will have to look a little closer but because of a problem when I got my car I didn't think about it...

My day just got worse as I picked up the car from the monkeys at the state inspection place and now my car won't shift into second or fourth or sixth!

Pry up the shifter boot "horseshoe" and see if there is a loose coin or something near the bottom of the shift lever blocking it.

[dsallean]

Originally Posted by particlewave

Pry up the shifter boot "horseshoe" and see if there is a loose coin or something near the bottom of the shift lever blocking it.

Thanks PW, I did do that just now and I couldn't really see anything. It is dark in there and I don't have a flashlight with me. Looks like I will have to drive home as is and take things apart there.

I raised the spoiler and I can see that one of the tabs on the spoiler is under the frame instead of over the frame if that makes sense. Not sure how that happened. On that side the spoiler is closer to the tail lights than the other side but it doesn't appear that there is any interference. I should be able to loosen the spoiler and just pop it back over.

[RobertKing]

There is a motor that drives two cables to raise or lower the fin. Sometimes, simply lubing the mechanism fixes the issue. Other times, you need to replace the drive assembly.

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by dsallean

My day just got worse as I picked up the car from the monkeys at the state inspection place and now my car won't shift into second or fourth or sixth!

Check your shifter linkage at the trans end. One of the cable may have popped off the linkage. It could have happened during the inspection.

[pidj]

Sorry - this was intended as a new post.

[dsallean]

Originally Posted by paulofto

Check your shifter linkage at the trans end. One of the cable may have popped off the linkage. It could have happened during the inspection.

Looks like the cable is messed up at the transmission end. Is this fixable or do I need to get a new cable?

[stanigu]

Originally Posted by dsallean

Thanks PW, I did do that just now and I couldn't really see anything. It is dark in there and I don't have a flashlight with me. Looks like I will have to drive home as is and take things apart there.

I raised the spoiler and I can see that one of the tabs on the spoiler is under the frame instead of over the frame if that makes sense. Not sure how that happened. On that side the spoiler is closer to the tail lights than the other side but it doesn't appear that there is any interference. I should be able to loosen the spoiler and just pop it back over.

I took that whole plastic piece off to paint and put it back on. You might want to source new plastic "rivets" (don't know the technical term) towards the front of the spoiler first, since they don't appear to be reusable after you take it off...

[paulofto]

Originally Posted by dsallean

Looks like the cable is messed up at the transmission end. Is this fixable or do I need to get a new cable?

That definitely doesn't look right. It looks like the inner cable is extended out of the outer sheath. This could mean that it has actually come loose at the shifter end. When mine messed up the cable had popped off the linkage and it was an easy fix. This looks a little more involved.

[dsallean]

Originally Posted by paulofto

That definitely doesn't look right. It looks like the inner cable is extended out of the outer sheath. This could mean that it has actually come loose at the shifter end. When mine messed up the cable had popped off the linkage and it was an easy fix. This looks a little more involved.

The shifter end is all good. I removed the center console and checked everything. I did slide the metal end of the shifter cable at the transmission end back up and secured it with some Permatex RTV for now. Shifting fine thru all gears. But I think a new cable is next on the project list.