Very stiff shifter lever - anyone know how to remove this trim?

[LC2015]

2015 LC. My gear shifter randomly gets super stiff and hard to move between PRND positions (both directions). Happens maybe once a month and lasts for a day or so, though right now it's been a couple days of it.

I'm trying to remove the trim around the shifter so I can investigate and make sure no physical binding or spillage has happened in there. Anyone know how to remove the silver trim and wood trim. See picture - any ideas?

 

[cboyd]

My 2015 does the same after it sits a week or so. Curious to see what others say. Was planning to have this looked at when I do the airbag remedy in 2 weeks

 

[LC2015]

My 2015 does the same after it sits a week or so. Curious to see what others say. Was planning to have this looked at when I do the airbag remedy in 2 weeks

I told the dealer but of course when I was there it didn't have any symptoms.

 

[camino70]

It's because your heated seat knobs are still installed, that's why everyone removes them.





All kidding aside, this appears to come up semi frequently, but I don't think I've seen a solution. Two suggestions that come up are use the parking brake and check the linkage on top side of transmission.

 

[LC2015]

It's because your heated seat knobs are still installed, that's why everyone removes them.

Really I assumed it was just the ventilated seat aspect, and I needed to prevent it from turning counterclockwise?

 

[camino70]

Really I assumed it was just the ventilated seat aspect, and I needed to prevent it from turning counterclockwise?

I'm sorry, I edited my post when I noticed your post count and thought you may not get my awful sense of humor and added ", this appears to come up semi frequently, but I don't think I've seen a solution. Two suggestions that come up are use the parking brake and check the linkage on top side of transmission."

 

[Andres G]

Hello guys, adding to this thread, I have identified a pattern for this issue on my 200.

If it sits for extended periods of time (over a week) the shifter operation gets incredibly difficult. This seems to be exponential... the longer it sits, the harder it gets to move between gears.

I doubt that it has anything to do with the vehicle being parked in an incline with the shifter in P. I tested this by parking mine on a flat surface and holding it with the hand brake. Still same result.

I also read here that temp/humidity may influence this behavior. My garage is climate/himidity controlled, it is kept at 18 celsius & 50% humidity. There was no difference in result vs. parked outside on a mild incline.

I wonder if there are any linkage couplings that get bound with lack of use, or that require lubrication of some sort...? My local dealer sells maybe 1 cruiser a month so they are not a source of good intel.

If anyone makes progress on this, please keep us posted.

 

[LC2015]

Hello guys, adding to this thread, I have identified a pattern for this issue on my 200.

If it sits for extended periods of time (over a week) the shifter operation gets incredibly difficult. This seems to be exponential... the longer it sits, the harder it gets to move between gears.

I doubt that it has anything to do with the vehicle being parked in an incline with the shifter in P. I tested this by parking mine on a flat surface and holding it with the hand brake. Still same result.

I also read here that temp/humidity may influence this behavior. My garage is climate/himidity controlled, it is kept at 18 celsius & 50% humidity. There was no difference in result vs. parked outside on a mild incline.

I wonder if there are any linkage couplings that get bound with lack of use, or that require lubrication of some sort...? My local dealer sells maybe 1 cruiser a month so they are not a source of good intel.

If anyone makes progress on this, please keep us posted.

Mine is back in the shop as of today for 90k service. I let them know about the issue and they're going to check out whether lubricating the link helps. The issue is so rare with mine that it may take a while to figure out whether this was actually the issue, but I'll report back.

 

[skyak]

I just responded in another thread with my fix. Clean your MAF sensor. As a test raise the RPMs while trying to shift from Park to Drive. It will probably be easier.

 

[LC2015]

I just responded in another thread with my fix. Clean your MAF sensor. As a test raise the RPMs while trying to shift from Park to Drive. It will probably be easier.

Is this for real? I feel like this quarantine will bring dozens of people out of the woodwork with this issue, since their LCs are sitting for so long without being driven. Got in mine yesterday and the shifter was insanely stiff again. The dealer's attempt at lubricating the linkage clearly didn't work. I'll check out the MAF possibility, thanks for the tip.

 

[skyak]

Is this for real? I feel like this quarantine will bring dozens of people out of the woodwork with this issue, since their LCs are sitting for so long without being driven. Got in mine yesterday and the shifter was insanely stiff again. The dealer's attempt at lubricating the linkage clearly didn't work. I'll check out the MAF possibility, thanks for the tip.

Ya surprised me too when it cured the issue for us. I cleaned my throttle body at the same time but I am pretty sure it is the MAF sensor that causes it. Nice thing all it takes is a bottle of MAF sensor spray and about 10 minutes of time.

 

[LC2015]

Ya surprised me too when it cured the issue for us. I cleaned my throttle body at the same time but I am pretty sure it is the MAF sensor that causes it. Nice thing all it takes is a bottle of MAF sensor spray and about 10 minutes of time.

Cool I just went ahead and ordered a new MAF sensor, was faster and easier than getting the spray to my house. I'll update.

 

[cboyd]

Mine was also insanely stiff yesterday after sitting for nearly 2 weeks... waiting to see how you guys make out with this MAF fix.

I’ve been working on a maintenance list of items on my 100 and sitting still has been taking its toll there too...

 

[M1911]

Mine was also insanely stiff yesterday after sitting for nearly 2 weeks... waiting to see how you guys make out with this MAF fix.

Same for my 2013. I went to the grocery store on Thursday and the shift lever was stiffer than normal.

 

[Supra88]

Cool I just went ahead and ordered a new MAF sensor, was faster and easier than getting the spray to my house. I'll update.

Did you get OEM? I see Rock Auto has the Hitachi OEM for about $50.

 

[LC2015]

Did you get OEM? I see Rock Auto has the Hitachi OEM for about $50.

Duralast but only because free next day shipping.
If it works I'll probably order an OEM unit.

 

[LC2015]

Well, I installed the new MAF but it didn't change anything regarding the shifter, which happens to be very hard to move right now.

I only ran the engine for about 30 seconds though, but I'll take it out for a lengthy drive tomorrow to see if anything changes.

My old MAF looked very clean fwiw.

 

[skyak]

is it easier to shift if you raise the rpms while shifting?

 

[LC2015]

is it easier to shift if you raise the rpms while shifting?

Nope, tried that too.

 

[skyak]

weird, almost like a totally different issue, in my case when i raised the rpm's it made it much easier to shift