stiff shifting into gear - '05 auto trans.

[m5online]

Howdy Guys,

I have an '05 PT with an automatic trans. Lately these past few months I've been noticing that when starting up in the morning, it's hard to shift from park to drive, or reverse or any gear. It feels as though the shifter is in a big jar of molasses. Once it's in gear, it shifts fine during driving. And the stiffness go's away most of the time if a drive for any reasonable amount of time.

It seems to me that it may be just a linkage issue since it drives and shifts gears just fine once i get it into drive.

Any advice with possible causes would be very helpful.

Thanks!!

[CREWZIN]

What is your mileage? Did you buy the car new? Do you have a service record? When was the last time the transaxle was flushed?

My guess is that you need a change of trans fluid. Make sure whoever does it used ATF+4 fluid.

[slartyblarfast]

Most likely someone has spilled coffee, coke or some other sugary beverage and it has gotten in to the shift cable. I've seen it several times.