F35 Trans (LNF) Frozen Shifter Cables
 

Is there anyone that has had their F35 trans (LNF) shifter frozen during the winter months? If I leave the car in 1st overnight I’m screwed for 10 minutes holding the clutch in waiting for the cables to de-ice.

Mine is worse than ever this year and was wondering if someone had a picture or advice as to where to lube the shifter cables. I’m hoping spraying a little lithium grease or something will keep enough moisture out so I can drive the car in cold weather.

Do you garage your car? I haven't had this problem, since my car is garaged.

How cold? I've been down to -2 Celsius in my car and it shifts fine cold.

Maybe put some lube on them or grease it up. They don't freeze very well and it should help it a little I suppose.

We need more info to help. Does the car shift fine the rest of the day? Have you tried to leaving it out of gear over night and then trying to move the shifter in the morning?

It sounds like the cable tube is cracked letting moisture get in it somewhere.

Never had that issue with either one of my balts and it's cold around here during the winter, no garaging either :-(

Sometimes the car is garaged, but not always. It freezes up either way, but for a shorter duration if it’s garaged. The temperature a few days ago was 7 degrees one morning (-14 Celsius for you Canadian’s). Shifts perfectly once warmed up.

^ Sounds like this.
I have no issues. We also live in the same place. :guns:

Is that covered under powertrain?

Unfortunately I believe it is bumper to bumper.

Why leave it in gear? You park on a hill? They make ebrakes for a reason.

Woke up for work today, and left the car outside since I didn't sleep at home.. 22 or so degrees. Shifter was fine.

im across the river, mine feels weird, not sure if its frozin also, mine doesnt wanna go in first or reverse on a cold start, havent tryed any ther gears tho

I never had my cobalt shifter freeze up until this year.

It does it anywhere under about 25 degrees F.

i leave it in gear because when it freezes it will work in 1st and 2nd but won't slide into 3rd until warm, so I can at least drive to work. Once warm it's perfect. Not sure what's actually freezing. if it's moisture I need to find out. Put a moisture packet in there to keep it from happening.

Trans is just cold. Heat doesn't start to build in the trans till you start driving.

I also assume the trans gets a lot of heat from the engine bay and exhaust areas. The shifter cable will liven up if just warming the car up in the morning.

This is a common problem. Ive had it happen every year, I just make sure to keep the car in neutral during the cold nights. It seems to happen at 29*F or lower. I always thought that it was because the plastic sheath around the metal cable contracts more rapidly than the metal cable causing it to hold like a chinese finger trap.

I never got it solved but I do have a garage now. The way I dealt with it should it still be in first gear is I would open up the cup holder while the cars running and throw my hand in there to help heat of the area quicker. body heat.

Oh and if your try forcing the shifter into gears you WILL break the clips. While its warming up gently apply pressure slowly dont do quick movements.

I wonder if spraying the shifter linkage both under the cup holder and ontop of the tranny with some white lithium grease or some rust check or something would help it to not freeze.

Just had my cables change for the second time for same problem. The first time my cables got gunked up, stretched and finally became useless. This time they would freeze over night more and more until they finally snapped. There is definitely a design flaw allowing water/moister getting in. My problem is obviously more extreme then you guy's, but so is the weather up here. If others have had cable related problems please chime in. Mine were covered under the Powertrain Warranty as they are part of the transmission. I would love to get this problem resolved, as I will eventually run out of Powertrain Warranty. I'm thinking contacting GM and would love to have some back-up.

latman,
Sorry to hear about the cable concerns you're having! I see you're in Ottawa and if you wanted to contact Customer Service for your area, GM of Canada can be reached at 800-263-3777 (Hours: M-F 7:30am - 11:30pm, Sat 7:30am - 6:00 EST).

Regards,
Sarah
GM Customer Service

I am having this exact same problem. My car has been at the dealer since last Thursday. Last night they did leave me a message after the service department had closed saying they couldn't find anything wrong. One of my cables under the center console now has about a 45 degree bend in it from me trying to get the car in neutral. The dealer also told me the cables are not covered under the powertrain warranty. So, as usual it looks like I'll be fixing the car myself.

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/driv...tartup-291228/

My dealer told me I'm SOL on the cables being covered by the Powertrain Warranty. they said if the issue is inside the transmission, it's covered. But if it's something connected to the transmission it's not.

Mine froze last winter...... word to the wise...... dont try to force it . I ended up bending the cable end just a tick.......took 6 months but it broke on a 3rd gear NLS this summer. It wasnt fun replacing.

uhhh what? always park in gear

If there's water in the trans then you have issues, oil wont freeze in the type of temps we would experience.

OP like Mongo said sounds like there is water getting into the cables, not sure how you would check this, but if you have the time i would wait till it happens and look under the hood at the linkage, you should be able to point out where the sticking is occurring as there will be absolutely no play at that point.