Figured out the issue with my shifter **** incident. You should go check yours out just to be sure:

1. Pull up your outer boot by pushing it to the right and lifting up the right edge. Then disengage it from the left side and pull it up, exposing the shaft and inner boot.

2. You will notice a black plastic surround, or collar, that is spring loaded. Its purpose is to prevent a locking pin from coming out accidentally. This pin is approx. 1/8" in diameter and 1" long. It locks together the outer shaft which is part of the ****, and the inner shaft attached to the shifter mechanism.

3. The pin length is longer than the diameter of the shaft so it sticks out both front and back of the shaft. This is important, take note.

4. The spring loaded "collar" should be turned so the projecting pin slips into recesses on the collar. The spring loading then "snaps" the collar upward effectively concealing the pin and preventing it from coming out.

5. For some reason, there is a groove in that collar the will press against the pin and it looks like that is a correct positioning. It is not. Turn the collar and make sure the pin projections are well down into the collar recesses.

6. You can easily remove the **** and outer boot as a unit by pushing the collar down and removing the pin. Just make sure that collar is positioned to secure the pin when you reinstall.

I'm sure that when my shifter was replaced under warranty, the tech did not turn the collar enough to secure the pin. Subsequent shifting obviously worked the pin out. You might want to look at yours, particularly if your shifter has ever been worked on or the **** removed.