How to fix: Wrongly adjusted shifter / linkage: how do you go about it?

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Confirmed diagnosis: the gear shift lever (the foot lever) or its linkage is bent or out of adjustment, which is interfering with shifting -- often after a fall, even a minor one. The shift lever transmits the movement of your foot to the transmission's selector shaft, sometimes directly, sometimes through an adjustable linkage rod (particularly on rearset controls or setups where the lever is offset). A bent lever or linkage rod changes the geometry and travel: shifts become stiff, incomplete (gears hard to engage), or the lever rubs/catches. What points to this: a shifting problem that appeared right after a fall or impact, with a visibly crooked lever or a deformed linkage. The fix: check the lever and its linkage, straighten or replace the bent part (selector shaft lever, linkage rod), check that the fasteners are tight, and, if the linkage is adjustable, tune its length for proper travel. This is an accessible, intermediate-level job. Risk level: low to moderate. Budget-wise: a new shift lever runs roughly 15 to 60 euros, a linkage rod/rod end a few euros to about twenty (check). Important: a bent selector shaft on the engine side (rather than just the outer lever) may need more involved work. Also check that the shift lever's return spring is intact (a lever that doesn't return to neutral sometimes comes down to that). Distinguish this from a clutch problem (crunching noises) or an internal gearbox issue (gears popping out). This tool helps you understand what's going on -- it doesn't replace a certified mechanic.