Cables feel frozen in the cooler months and I've read on here about checking the shift cables. For those that may be wondering, no issues such as getting locked out or anything while WOT, just difficult to shift and again only when it's cold out. Best way to describe it is the shifter being extremely notchy.

I also found this 'stuff' by/on the cables under the cupholders. Anyone experience any of this?

 

Kinda looks like if the lube froze and turned into that could be wrong tho

 

My old white cobalt did the same thing in 50F weather. got VERY notchy.

But a little bit later ended up being the clutch and I couldn't get into gear while making a left turn and *Poof* goes the side of the car.

 

when I changed mine it was really hard to shift, particularly into reverse, for some reason. when I got the cables out we tried pulling them with a pliers to see if they moved, they weren't going nowhere.

 

Appreciate your input. How hard would you say it was to complete the task of replacing them? I'm assuming the most "difficult" part was removing the fuse box? Man is that a pain in the ass!

 

Fuse box aint hardto take apart! Just unscrew the positive post and it comes apart in layers.

 

could try unhooking both ends and see how they feel. you can also work some lithium grease into the cables this way. if they feel stiff, change them.

there is more to notchy shifting than just cables. what oil are you running in the transmission? anything other than the gm oil can tend to cause notchy or stiff shifting when cold.

 

I've seen that stuff since I got my car at 52k sitting at 112k now. Never really noticed stiff shifting somtimes it feels notchy but not every time usally when I'm lazy on the shifts and don't focus i put some grease on it when i did my ottp shifter with the ottp clamp. If your having trouble getting into reverse put it in 1st then R works every time haha

 

You need new cables. Please read this entire thread.

https://www.cobaltss.net/forums/driv...everse-320354/

 

Did you follow the service procedure to lock the shifter into 3rd when you installed the cables? If not, that is probably the issue.
Or are you just saying that you changed them because it was hard to shift?

 

Are you suggesting to shift the transmission into third before releasing the clamp?

 

You're awesome. Thank you

 

I meant 4th gear. Here is the service procedure for adjusting the cables. Hope this helps.








Here is how to do the 4th gear lock clip.