Accidentally made my car better with zipties!

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Old 01-31-2010, 03:35 AM
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Accidentally made my car better with zipties!

So I did the TL-S rack/PS pump mod today and man let me just say, its definately a great mod. I will probably be writing up a DIY to help some people out since even though some guys said they spent 2-2 1/2hrs, it took us 4 because we couldn't figure out how the hell to get the rack out. Regardless onto the point of this thread.

One of my biggest pet peeves is a good solid feeling shifter. I own an S2k as well so if my shift box feels like gooey garbage its not gonna fly. I bought the CorSport shifter bushings and threw them on, and it did make a noticable difference, but still not enough for me. Since I had to replace 2 burnt out bulbs on my seat heater button I decided to do a mod I had done on my RSX-S, shifter box bushings. Since I'm not a machinest and I'm impatient I took a drive to home depot and picked up some aluminum washers that worked out to be the perfect size. Put 3 on each side underneath and above where the rubber bushings for the shifter box went and it made an even more noticable difference. Since the box now has no more play the shifts feel very direct and very solid. At this point I tossed on the CR shift knob I had on my S2k and it felt awesome.

Today when I was trying to unbolt the ps lines from the rack these 2 wires were being a pain in my ass so I grabbed a zip tie and moved them over about 4-5 inches and tied them to this loomed harness. Well come to find out later when I forgot to take that zip tie off that it was the shifter cables and I hadn't noticed it before. The shifter in this car feels amazing. Quite honestly I can comfortabley say it can easily rival my old 08 STi with the holy shift kit, and probably come close to the s2k. The lever has almost NO PLAY at all and when the lever is put into gear it has absolutely NO PLAY WHATEOEVER. So moving some annoying lines out of my way made my car better, all thanks to a little zip tie.

Just figured I'd share with you guys, maybe some of you would like to try this, or if there are any 6mt locals out there that want to check it out you're more then welcome to. Definately a great mod which cost me no more than I'd say an hour of my own time and about 35 bucks for everything.
Old 01-31-2010, 09:16 AM
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pics?
Old 01-31-2010, 11:24 AM
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Old 01-31-2010, 11:37 AM
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I'll post some up later today.
Old 01-31-2010, 04:14 PM
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so the combination of zipties and aluminum bushings made the difference??
Old 01-31-2010, 05:12 PM
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Originally Posted by ussi
so the combination of zipties and aluminum bushings made the difference??
The aluminum shift cable bushings made it feel less notchy. The gears felt like they engaged better. The aluminum washers made the gear lever feel alot more solid its mounted with rubber bushings with a metal sleeve in them bolted to the floor. Taking the play out makes the lever engagement feel really solid and direct. The zip tie just completely got rid of the lose sloppy feel the lever had when you moved it side to side, and back to back and between the gears it felt like it took a bit more effort to change gears but not enough that its uncomfortable. Try it out, worse case scenario you cut the zip tiie off. Heres a photo.

Sensor directly right of my wrist is the MAP sensor on the throttle body for reference.
Old 02-02-2010, 02:41 PM
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Hmm...I think I want to do this...
Old 02-03-2010, 05:05 AM
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Tell us more about this rack/PS mod? I have not heard of this one....
Old 02-03-2010, 07:06 AM
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N3O I was wondering if by any chance you can post step by step guide and list of needed hardware. Will it do anything to AT?
Old 02-03-2010, 07:10 AM
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Originally Posted by spinxt
Tell us more about this rack/PS mod? I have not heard of this one....
https://acurazine.com/forums/3g-tl-performance-parts-modifications-112/08-tl-s-steering-rack-base-04-tl-auto-717373/
Old 02-03-2010, 07:44 AM
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Originally Posted by badkenny
N3O I was wondering if by any chance you can post step by step guide and list of needed hardware. Will it do anything to AT?
Step by step guide and parts for what...this mod? Take a Ziptie, put it around the shift cables and that engine harness and pull. Done, lol. This will only work on MT cars.
Old 02-03-2010, 01:06 PM
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Originally Posted by n3o
Step by step guide and parts for what...this mod? Take a Ziptie, put it around the shift cables and that engine harness and pull. Done, lol. This will only work on MT cars.
So the ziptie is around the 2 shift cables and engine harness cable? i'll try it this weekend.
Old 02-03-2010, 02:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ussi
So the ziptie is around the 2 shift cables and engine harness cable? i'll try it this weekend.
Yup, I used a 6" zip tie and grabbed the cables against the harness and put the zip tie on. I did it unintentionally to move the cables out of the way but forgot to remove it later on.
Old 03-07-2010, 10:25 PM
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Originally Posted by princelybug
Hmm...I think I want to do this...
Just did this yesterday.
Old 03-08-2010, 12:35 AM
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in theory, this should work to help shift feel. it keeps the outside of the shift cable still while the inside moves freely
Old 03-08-2010, 12:37 AM
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^
Old 03-08-2010, 09:13 AM
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How does it feel Princely? ima do it today too
Old 03-17-2010, 10:55 AM
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lex did it on mine, and wow!!!!!!...

thnx 4 that mod OP...
Old 03-17-2010, 01:23 PM
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so all we need is a zip tie? anyone have any better pics of what cables need to be zip tied?
Old 03-17-2010, 05:23 PM
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that picture is enough. you just need to go to your car and see it. it CANT be missed.
Old 03-17-2010, 05:23 PM
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Originally Posted by ABP_04TL
lex did it on mine, and wow!!!!!!...

thnx 4 that mod OP...

i told you son and you didn't believe me lol
Old 03-22-2010, 11:13 PM
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ziptie shifter cable mod = cheapest mod evaaar!
Old 03-23-2010, 01:58 PM
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so the actual shifter feels tighter? ive driven a s2000.. the stock shifter seems pretty tight to begin with - very little play when in neutral and in any gear. this mod just tightens up the feeling?
Old 04-15-2010, 12:20 AM
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Originally Posted by Project X
so the actual shifter feels tighter? ive driven a s2000.. the stock shifter seems pretty tight to begin with - very little play when in neutral and in any gear. this mod just tightens up the feeling?
The shifter in the S2000 was forged in the 7th dimension of hell from the vaginal secretions of oracles by Zeus. Its gearbox will remain unrivaled for eternity.

This mod basically gets rid of some of the play in the shift lever itself, but retricting the amount that the cables move in the engine bay.
Old 04-15-2010, 12:55 AM
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Originally Posted by n3o
the shifter in the s2000 was forged in the 7th dimension of hell from the vaginal secretions of oracles by zeus. Its gearbox will remain unrivaled for eternity.

this mod basically gets rid of some of the play in the shift lever itself, but retricting the amount that the cables move in the engine bay.

lmao lmao lmao
Old 04-15-2010, 01:00 AM
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Will have to try this...
Old 04-15-2010, 10:12 PM
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Originally Posted by o4komodo
will have to try this...
+1
Old 04-15-2010, 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by n3o
The shifter in the S2000 was forged in the 7th dimension of hell from the vaginal secretions of oracles by Zeus. Its gearbox will remain unrivaled for eternity.

This mod basically gets rid of some of the play in the shift lever itself, but retricting the amount that the cables move in the engine bay.
LOL! That's sig-worthy haha.

I'll have to try this mod out tomorrow.
Old 04-19-2010, 04:55 PM
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Holy Jeebus!
That is one tight spot....
My arms felt like they were bending backwards-ready to snap!

I'm not even 100% sure if I got the right cables. It's a bit messy in there.
Looks like I got it right though.
I'll be going for a drive soon and will report back how the mod did.
Old 04-19-2010, 05:33 PM
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Well, after going for a drive it seems that I got the right cables.

While zip-tying the cables.. I first zip-tied the 2 shifter cables together in two different locations. From there I zip-tied them to a wire-loom-harness thing.

Earlier today, it seemed that my GM:FMSMTM is starting to wear out as I'm starting to grind in 3rd gear again...
After this mod, the grinding has seemed to stop for now. Kind of weird... I actually did quick and short shifts in to 3rd gear to try to replicate any 3rd gear issues. Nothing so far. Maybe it's just coincidence...

Anyway, the shifter feels tight now. There is less free-play in neutral and in gears.
The shifter feels as if it moves a little slower [when not moving] but when the TL was accelerating--all shift-movement felt the same. The shifts feel more precise.
It's a great mod!
It would feel amazing with shifter bushings and a short shifter...
Right now I just have GM:FMSMTM and a Skunk2 weighted knob.
Old 04-19-2010, 05:43 PM
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I actually did this a while back, but I can't notice any tangible difference. Imagined difference? Maybe.
Old 04-19-2010, 05:45 PM
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But I already have aluminum shifter cable bushings, aluminum shifter base bushings, a short-shifter, and a weighted shift knob.
Old 04-19-2010, 05:51 PM
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Originally Posted by princelybug
But I already have aluminum shifter cable bushings, aluminum shifter base bushings, a short-shifter, and a weighted shift knob.
I forgot about those alu. s/s shifter cables...
being alu. s/s, they probably don't move as much s the stock rubberized ones.
Old 04-21-2010, 03:18 AM
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I keep finding these little mods to do.. haha.. but this one will take like 10 minutes.. So gotta do this one tomorrow.
Old 04-21-2010, 07:56 AM
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Originally Posted by princelybug
But I already have aluminum shifter cable bushings, aluminum shifter base bushings, a short-shifter, and a weighted shift knob.
I have all those mods minus short shifter and well, I drove home from the shop and my car just felt different. I checked and I realized it was in there. When I took it off is when I noticed how much like garbage the shifter felt. If you don't have it tight enough then you really wont feel a difference.
Old 07-27-2010, 11:07 PM
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Did I zip tie the right stuff together? I know it's loose in the pic, I tightened it up and pushed it further back after.

Old 07-27-2010, 11:18 PM
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Yeah, that's the right area/spot.
Now you need to zip-tie those 2 cables that are adjacent to each other [far right 2 cables in your pic]. You got one of them.. now zip tie those two together securely/tightly and secure it again to that wire-harness.
Old 07-28-2010, 05:12 AM
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i love zip ties....quick fix for everything but in this case quick mod
Old 07-28-2010, 08:38 AM
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Originally Posted by o4Komodo
Yeah, that's the right area/spot.
Now you need to zip-tie those 2 cables that are adjacent to each other [far right 2 cables in your pic]. You got one of them.. now zip tie those two together securely/tightly and secure it again to that wire-harness.
Thanks man. I wondered about that second cable on the right, but I couldn't tell if it was included or not in the original pic. I definitely felt a difference with just the one tightened up on my drive this morning. The shifter felt like it was rowing thru honey or something, just a bit tighter feeling.

So what are those 2 cables anyway? I'm unfortunately not very educated about what's under the hood.
Old 07-29-2010, 02:07 PM
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very cool thread wish u found something cool like this for us autos haha


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