I find that moving the gear shifter from Park back 3 clicks to drive seems to “stick” and can be tough after not driving for a few days, or especially when it’s cold out.

last year, I removed the gear shift ****/ handle/ boot, and centre console bezel and got to the actual lever mechanism underneath. I applied a lot of super lube grease along the gear track and it seemed to get a lot better and was much more freely shifting.

just don’t want to have to keep doing this…anyone else have any solutions or have this issue?

i don’t think I need a new shift cable, and I see the shifter control piece (the lever and plastic housing) is available for between $160-$200. Just wondering if that’s worth doing for cost and any complications that might come from disconnecting the shift cable and reconnecting.

 

Some grease gets sticky/clumpy when cold.

 

The grease seems to have improved it, but its always been tight (even without any grease), like its catching on those "steps" it goes up/ down. Wondering if replacing that whole piece might give me a back to factory, smooth shift. Once or twice I had to get both hands on it and really muscle to get it out of park. And...even now, I can't put it into 1st, 2nd, or 3rd gear (anywhere behind D), because it just gets so stuck and requires both arms and a lot of muscle to move back. I never use those gears anyways, but I figure thats just never being "stretched" back that far (the shift cable or the "steps").

 

Disconnect cable from shifter and check operation.

 

Ok as an update, I bought a new transmission control part (the under the shift **** part). Removed the old one, put new in place, and still same issue…can’t move back beyond D (gets completely stuck). It’s a little smoother because this is a new part, but I think the shift cable is the issue.

before I buy the upper and lower cable to replace it, does anyone have any last minute suggestions for lubing anything or trying anything else? Looks like a bit of a job fishing it through everything to underneath, in clipping/ remounting, etc.

 

If you think the issue is in the cable go to your local motorcycle shop and get a good quality cable lube and a cable lube tool ( it an aluminum bracket with a rubber clamp to seal the spray tube to the cable housing) and lube the hell out of the cable(s) .

 

Did the shifter move freely/P to 1, when disconnected the cable? Yes, disconnect cable from transmission and recheck operation. 1 of 3 causes, Shifter-Cable-Transmission.

 

Update: it was the shift cable. After changing the shift console lever and not much difference, changed the cable today with my mechanic and its night and day. Feels brand new. I can shift with a finger now, no muscle needed, and can actually get back into 3/2/1 as well.

Parts were cheap ordered on gmpartsdepot for under $100 all in with the extra clips etc. and labour was about $100 also.

 

Glad to hear a success story. Thanks for posting the fix. Most don't.

 

X2 on that. Thanks!