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.

[NIL8r]

I have the same issue with mine. But instead, my shifter (automatic) moves fine when it's cold (sitting for a while). But I notice after driving on the highway coming homeform work (about 40 miles), I pullinto the drive and it's hard to get it through the gears and into "Park".

The local dealer checked it out for me and said they would have to diagnose for about an hour and they think it's one of two things. 1) cable may be corroded and heats up and starts binding. Or, 2) The shifting shaft that goes through the shifter has some corrosion (they tell me it turns slightly as you move the shifter).

Anyone have any other suggestions?

[Hooligan]

Cable bushings?

[NIL8r]

May be one of the numerous things on my list to do for the three-day weekend.
I'll take a look at the repair manual to see more info on the location of the cable bushings mentioned. Thanks.

[chrisosa]

Originally Posted by 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.

can the cable be cleaned and lubricated or does it have to be re-placed. my wife spilled coffe around the shifter handle!!!! and now we have the same problem with the shifter being hard to move!!!!

[calhounkirby]

Originally Posted by 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!!

Ok i have the same exact problem with my 06 it leaks down from the coke holder gunk is in my shift cable and i put it off to long now the plastic mount is broken the cable cost on ebay about 144.00 but you may can find cheaper