Just wanted to see if this problem has been an issue for anyone else. I have two GM W bodys, one is a 97 Lumina with the 3.1M and the other is a 96 Regal with the 3800. The last couple years it gets very hard to move the shift lever when the engine and vehicle are both cold in the winter. Like tonight when it was 10 degrees out. I mean it'* really hard to move the lever. I'm afraid one of these days it'* going to brake off in my hand. Both vehicles have this same exact problem. Problem disappears once vehicle is warmed up. I have lubricated the gearshift cables on both vehicles VIA seperating the cables at the joint just near the battery. I can actually seperate the outer casing of the cable in order to squirt some oil into the cable right at that joint. It doesn't seem to help. I was thinking I should replace the cable but as the oil didn't help, I'm thinking the problem may be elsewhere. Maybe something in the column? Seeings how I have two w bodys of the same vintage, I assume this may be a common issue.

Any thoughts?

Rich.

i build shifters, not for W bodies but for hondas, and in those there are a few things that can jam it, one mainly being a lock pin which is attached to a lock pin rod located inside the shifter lever. when you press the button on the shifter to move it that rod moves down moving the pin down, that pin could be locking in place in a certain spot in the gear slots (detent). or worn/broken. if its not the cables it very well may be something inside the shifter column.

Try this, disconnect the cable from the lever @ the trans when you park the car for the night. The next day go in the car and see if the shifter now moves easily. If it does, try to move the lever on the trans. If the lever on the trans is hard to move, you have a linkage problem. If the shifter is still hard to move, disconnect the cable from the shifter and if the shifter now moves freely you have a shifter cable problem.

Thanks for the suggestions. Just thought that maybe this was a common problem. I will check things out and post the results.

Have you found the problem? Are you coming back?

Sorry. Have not had a chance to look at it. In the process of changing employment. Not fun.

Still dealing with the hard shifter. Yes I will post my findings whenever I get a chance to look at it. Maybe in a couple weeks.

Suddenly started working. How about this I ran to the store just up the road and the car was still very cold. All the sudden after getting back in the car to head back home, expecting the shifter to be hard, pulled it and it let loose and shifts like a dream! So i worked it all the way one way and back to park a few times. Makes me wonder if there is a piece of rubber that might have been binding on the cable this whole time and is now gone or moved back into place. Have no clue and I didn't look at it. So just fyi. I don't ever remember it shifting so easy....ever. lol hope that'* not a really bad thing.