92 Protege, Automatic Shift Lever Binding?

[naustin]

My wife's 92 has suddenly exhibited a problem with the shifter linkage. Suddenly the gear selector (automatic transmission) is much more difficult to slide up and down from Park to Drive, etc. It used to move quite freely, and now is much tighter.

It doesn't catch, or make any strange noise when you move it - and it doesn't take any kind of extraordinary force to move it - it is just, suddenly, different.

I'm no mechanic, but I know whenever anything suddenly changes, even if it doesn't seem like the end of the world, that there is probably something wrong - or about to be wrong.

The car doesn't drive or shift any different, the gear selector is just stiff.

So, if anybody can tell me what to inspect, whether this is a symptom of a serious problem, or where to squirt some WD40, I'd very, very much appreciate it! :thup:

[rebby]

FWD right? Alright, you should have two linkage "boxes" under the car. One right under the gear shift and one mounted on the tranny. Start w/the one under the gear shift. Inspect for anything that looks odd such as obstructions, or corrosion. Get your WD-40 out and coat the hell out of it. Work the gear shift back and forth while you do this to make sure that you get a good coating inside and out (have Ann help you). Check the bushing on the rod and make sure that it's still tight. Chances are it's plastic, it might be broken which would make the shifter feel odd. Once you are finished there follow the rod to the tranny. Again check for obstructions. Once you find the tranny mount, repeat the process that you just did under the gear shift. Chances are something is sticky, you have a bad bushing, or you picked up an obstruction. If none of this helps under the car there are still a few possibilites. Something might be stuck under the center console, check there and get out your WD-40 again. Another possibility, well, I think you know where it would be sticking if it's not any of the above. I don't really want to say it though. you can isolate each componet and check though by removing the linkage and working things. It should become obvious at this point. Anyway, sorry for the poor format but I'm tired and want to go to bed. I know that you have a "fake holiday" (aka: bank/govt holiday, everybody else has to work) so i figured that I'd get this post done tonight so you have something to work on tomorrow. ;)

[wannabfast]

hows the shift cover? is there lots of junk in there? take out the console, clean everything out, lube it...

whens the last time you flushed the tranny?

[naustin]

Well, first of all - it's a wire cable, not a shaft type linkage, and it runs under the dash and through the firewall, not under the car. THe consul is clean, and there isn't really any way for an obstruction to fall in there. Plus, since it doesn't go out the bottom of the car, corrosion shouldn't be the issue either.

THe car has 82K on it, we bought it with 60. I don't know when the last time the fluid was changed, but it is still Pink and new looking.

It does appear to be over-full however. I wonder if when we had it in for an oil change, they over filled the transmission fluid??? Or how long has it been over-filled??? FUck.

I'm calling the mechanic.

[wannabfast]

well the shift lever still has a mechanical pivot point... spray with wd-40 or some penetrating oil.. and work the lever alone.. see if it feels different with the covers and stuff off

[rebby]

well the shift lever still has a mechanical pivot point... spray with wd-40 or some penetrating oil.. and work the lever alone.. see if it feels different with the covers and stuff off
Funny, I was just going to say that.

Also, you said that it was over full. You checked w/the engine running right?

[naustin]

No, I checked it wrong the first time. The tranny fluid is fine...

I didn't get a chance to pull the car apart, and it doesn't seem to be getting worse, but I'll hopefully get to work on it this weekend.

[rebby]

Stuck cables are not uncommon either. The cable may have slipped from the retainer as well (this happened to the throttle cable on my Charger before I bought it, after fixing that, I found another inch of pedal :thup: ).