Lubricating tight shifter

[MaximaGuy]

My automatic transmission shifter is kind of tight -- it is tough to move from park->gear and also from gear->park (it kind of falls into park like a thud). This happens sometimes but not always, but when it does, it takes a lot of pressure to move the shifter.

Do I need to lubricate the shifter arm that holds the transmission cable to the arm connected to the trannsmission? Or is there something wrong here?

I was told to pull the parking cable before moving from gear to park, which Iam doing but still it does not resolve the above problem

 

[drive it forever]

I would unhook the shifter cable from the transmission and go through its range of motion and see what it feels like.

 

[Mike_dup1]

You may need a new cable, corrosion may have found it way in or its binding.

 

[V1]

I have a similar issue with a manual transmission shifter. Is it something that can be remedied with some white lithium grease (granted it is indeed cable or linkage)?

 

[srivett]

VI, what is your car? My VW got stiff after a good power washing so I just used the spray lithium grease to get everything lubed again. VW uses a pile of little ball joints and some other stuff that needs to be greased but will still wear out. Bushing kits aren't too expensive and it makes it possible to find each gear without guessing.

Steve

 

[JohnBrowning]

Are you sure it is linkage or cable related? I ask because on GM applications the first thing I would suspect would be bitc solinoid or park nuat. saftey switch depending on application.

Check the owners manual to see if their is an overide. On older Toyota Trucks with automatics their was a little cover ont he shifter houseing. If ever the bitc solinoid fialed you could pop off that little cover and release the shifter by sticking a screwdriver in the opening. This allowed you to get the vechile out of park and into gear.

One time on my 1985 Ford Tempo the shift detent on the shifter failed and would not release the linkage. I poped the hood reached down and shifted the transmission on the side of the transmission case to get home. I over shifted and ended up running in third but that was fine by me!