Sticky shifter

amg61 · Nov 22, 2006

On my 1999 LC, i just noticed when shifting gears (automatic obviously) the gear selector sticks a little bit and then moves OK while changing gears. It's as if that long, thin plastic piece surrounding the shaft of the gear shifter is cracked, or loose or something. The shifter does move, but I have to exert more pressure to move it and hear a little cracking-type noise when it moves. Is it easy to access the area around the shifer to check that plastic piece, or see if something else got stuck under there?

Thanks.

Campfire · Nov 22, 2006

I have the same problem after I dumped my Caffino Mocha down it. You'll have to pull the console face and access the shifter assembly and clean as best possible. If you have not spilled anything down there, try spraying some "dry type" silicone down around the edges and see if that helps.

amg61 · Nov 23, 2006

Well, I found out some water spilled around the gear shifter last week. Someone else was driving the car. Anyway, I took the plastic cover off around the gear shifter and sprayed the area well with Teflon lubricant (hope this stuff is OK in that area) and it seems to be shifting smoother now. There is only a little sticking when taking it out of Park, but hopefully it will be OK.

Campfire · Nov 23, 2006

For cleaning out the shifter...
After you pull the console face off, there is one screw that holds down the top shifter plate and then there are four tabs that clip down the indicator lens. You can pry those over and pull the lens up, then clean as best possible. It's amazing whats down there.