Shifter Stiffness Fix. How to lube shifter cable bushings and linkage on a manual transmission.

How to free up a shifter that doesn't want to move. Very common on 3G Eclipses and other cars with manual transmissions.

[paulromsky]

On my Fiero, I lubricate from the shifter end. I put the spray straw right up against the sheath where the cable enters, then some tape around it, then carefully seal it up with hot glue. I spray for 5 seconds to get the white lithium spray lubricant through the cable, then peel off the glue, and work the cable. Then I do the other cable.

[sojourner]

My first car was a 1960 VW Bug. Your analogy is spot-on. As a teen, I just wanted to 'do my thing', at which was not giving proper time and attention to assisting 'my way' to run properly. One night, as a teen, I was out doing my thing, started home before curfew, my gears that had been grinding, that I paid no attention to, failed me EXCEPT to go BACKWARDS only. At midnight, I found myself driving across town to home, backwards. I, even though a female, did my own maintainance, yet ignored 'greasing/lubricating' my gears. Hence, I found myself with only one working position, BACKWARDS.
Lord, thank You that You have been long-suffering with us and our going backwards from You. It starts as a slow drift because we did not give attention to what was truly vital for us to, run properly. BUT GOD, Your PLANS FOR US overcame through our great hardships, that our eyes were opened. May we, Your church, never set aside Your anointing oil that helps us to move in the correct direction, FORWARD in You, with You. We were created to serve You, for then we too will be served in all the true and righteous ways. Here we are Lord, as living sacrifices for Your work at hand, in Jesus name. 🙏

[darkmugetsu]

My stick shift will move side to side smoothly, but getting it into gear feels very clunky and harder to do. Even with the vehicle not moving or turned off. There is even a light grind feel under the shift lever in some cases. Otherwise the vehicle stays in gear and doesn't slip or anything.

[markcollard]

Get a nice 2-3 foot section of aquarium hose and put one end where you want the grease and spray it down thru the tube to the end.

[Myaccisbanned]

Informative and clear. Thanks for making this.

[amilzekria]

Hey dude,
Only when i put it in reverse, it gets stuck and am unable to move it back into neutral. I can see the reverse lockout button is stuck up. Is this the reason why i can't bring the stick back?? Thanks

[RickJ-ypek]

White lithium grease is petroleum-based and can accelerate the degradation of plastic parts, like the shifter mechanism. You should use a silicone-based lubricant instead.

[samobalco]

Thanks I will try this but I will try using "Dry teflon" lubricant in spray. pretty much i would disconnect the cables and spray the teflon all the way in the cable until it gets to the cabin and also on bushing contact surfaces, the idea is that this wont be catching dirt or dust in it. hopefully fixing this

[josephbradshaw]

My 96 cavalier had the same problem it wasn’t my cable but the linkage on the transmission which is irreplaceable. After I lubed it the problem wasn’t completely solved but shift’s much better. It has metal bushings but everything is rusted up from being driven around the east coast. Oh and one of the cables has a tendency to pop off if any stress is put on it from not using the clutch while being on a hill.

[jpalacess]

how to fix a loose shifter i go into 1st gear or any gear and it looks like if am still in neutral which am not but still

[mrdagger]

The plastic that you pointed out and said “it’s not a problem “ what is it called ? I need to change mine

[juztmagic]

Hey great tutorial <3 Is it okay if I use silicone spray grease?

[mockemperor]

I'm learning manual and I believe the shifter is very stiff on it so I'm going to try this out and see if it helps

[jaiyzo]

My car is manual and I tried going in reverse and the shifter just kinda gave out and went limp. I can’t go into any gear any ideas ?

[hebrews]

2018 chevy spark manual transmission, while replacing the shifter cable i noticed the lever at the top of transmission is loose. And infact was not the shifter cable at all. I manually put the lever into 1st, 2nd 3rd, 4th, 5th but none of the gears seem to engage.With engine off. Any ideas what it might be?

[tonyc]

Silicone is a better option for loosening up your shifter it doesnt degrade plastics thats and it lasts long

[pokedude]

can the transmission fluid cause this too? My car did this after sitting in the cold for a couple days but it loosened up after driving around for 15 minutes or so

[tonyc]

Thats a temporary fix though u got other problems going on there all that clunking doesnt sound good at the end shifter moving but whatever u got to do to get it running

[stillltippin]

Hey that looks like an eclipse! My shifter is pretty hard and sticky too and I took to YouTube curious what people are doing and it's a wonder I stumble across an eclipse! Must be common? I feel less weary about it

[sarcastic_uNY]

My shifter is the opposite, not tight ! Loose, has play side to side when in a gear! 2005 Nissan Altima 2.5