So, i have yet ANOTHER problem with this car. Sometimes when i'm driving, it's extremely hard to get into first when at a stop, also second seems really rough going into most of the time. The rest of the gears slide in fairly easily, with the exception of reverse. I also might add, that i can feel heat coming from under neath the shifter, almost like a heater in the car....this area is constantly warm.

But, today, i went to school and i noticed the area was completely cool, also, the car was shifting flawlessly, and every gear went in nice and smooth. So i come home, take it out again, and the car is reluctant to go into 1st and 2nd, and again the shifter is very warm and blowing out hot air.

What the hell is going on???

 

Possibly the pilot bearing starting to wear out or it needs a fluid change. The best fluid for it would be Royal purple but it costs around $15 a quart and you need 3 quarts. But Royal purple is worth it.

 

I've had clutch disks where the up and down stream sides separate causing a constant low-level amout of drag to be applied against the pressure plate and flywheel. While driving cars in that condition I got into the habit of always shifting into second immediately before shifting into first. Try it and let us know if it is any easier to get into first gear.

 

There is a heat shield/ deflector in that area. Sometimes when the mounting hardware rusts and the thing starts rattling, the owner just takes it out.

Without that shield, the heat from the exhaust system will dry out the lube and bushings in the shift linkage (as well as warming up the center console). Try getting to as much of the linkage as you can by removing center console, and squirting a dose of aerosol based graphite down in there and see if your shifting is easier, then get the transmission linkage seen to properly and have that heat shield replaced ASAP.

 

Re my last post:
It just occurred to me that if you should have an exhaust leak in that section,
YOU ARE AT RISK OF CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING !
Better get this fixed damn quick, and in the meantime, regardless of the weather, don't drive unless the windows are open.