stiff shifter

[deathrament]

i bought a 2002 protege today with a stiff shifter otherwise working perfectly. Its a standard, the car was sitting for 5 months and now the shifter is prety stiff, its shifts fine no grining or anything its just stiff. Could it be from sitting for so long that it need greese somewhere or something else?

 

[Stickman]

Last yr, I could barely get my 3 P5 into gear, worse when it was warm. The rear linkage bushing right behind the catalitic converter/heat shield was frozen. Trans shop freed it up & it now shifts like a new car. Couldn't believe the difference from just a bushing. WD40 it now each oil change.

Worth checking out before you spend any bigger $$.

Hope that helps.

 

[Dermen]

I wouldn't use WD40 on it, I'm pretty sure it is bad for rubber. Drys it out or something. A silicon grease would be better.

 

[alexelie]

i think its normal for a car tahts been sitting for that long. Just drive it and it should correct itself. When i bought my p5 it was hard to shift, but now its all good.

 

[Stickman]

Dermen,
Thanks for the WD40 info.
I'll ask for lithium grease from now on.

 

[meGrimlock]

you can grease the bushings and the pivot ball, white lithium is fine. if you search for a Short Shifter install, it will tell you how to get access to the shift lever. the bolt that holds the shift lever to the linkage has 2 green plastic bushings that you can apply grease to the outside.

also check to see your motor mounts aren't torn. my #2 motor mount (front of car, under the radiator) was torn and shifting into 1st took insane amount of effort.

 

[Flav]

you can grease the bushings and the pivot ball, white lithium is fine. if you search for a Short Shifter install, it will tell you how to get access to the shift lever. the bolt that holds the shift lever to the linkage has 2 green plastic bushings that you can apply grease to the outside.

also check to see your motor mounts aren't torn. my #2 motor mount (front of car, under the radiator) was torn and shifting into 1st took insane amount of effort.

+1 yup.
I just replaced mine last weekend and now 1st actually goes in now.
Still a little stiff when coming to a rolling stop though, but it's a big help.

 

[CheeseHelmet]

+1 yup.
I just replaced mine last weekend and now 1st actually goes in now.

Sorry for the threadjack... How did the installation go for you?

 

[ChaRLeS23]

I wouldn't use WD40 on it, I'm pretty sure it is bad for rubber. Drys it out or something. A silicon grease would be better.

Any silicon-based lucricant is NOT recommended if the car will be driven in conditions below 32F or 0C since it will freeze on cold weather!

 

[Flav]

the mount went sooooooooooooooo smoothly...
i was incredibly surprised how quick of a job it was..
in TOTAL.
probably 30 minutes to replace.
if that.