# Sticky gear shift

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [August 8, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850 "2008-08-08T18:15:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hoyahoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@hoyahoot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hoyahoot)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:15pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850/1 "2008-08-08T18:15:05Z")

</div>

I have a 1998 Saturn SL. The gear shift is very sticky/tight. I have had it come loose recently, and had to replace the connection pieces. Is there anything I can do to make the shifting easier? Thanks!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Dave\_G](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dave_g/32/768_2.png) [@Dave\_G](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Dave_G)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850/2 "2008-08-08T18:50:31Z")

</div>

Your linkage is either worn or could use a little lubrication-take it to a shop and let them sort it out. If this is only a problem when the car is being driven you might try a tranny fuild change in case yours has gotten very dirty-which can sometimes affect shift quality.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![hoyahoot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b19c9b/32.png) [@hoyahoot](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hoyahoot)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:42am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850/3 "2008-08-11T02:42:47Z")

</div>

Thanks. The repair shop had suggested I was do for a clutch flush. Would this include a transmission fluid change?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Constantino\_Tobio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/edb3f5/32.png) [@Constantino\_Tobio](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Constantino_Tobio)\
**Post date:** [August 11, 2008, 2:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/sticky-gear-shift/17850/4 "2008-08-11T02:50:24Z")

</div>

Ah, it’s manual.

Hard shifting can be several things.

Gear oil is good for no more than 50,000 miles. The dealer might say it’s lifetime, but it isn’t. I’ve had transmissions that shifted a lot better after a gear oil change.

The “clutch flush” you mention seems like a flush of the clutch hydraulic fluid. This is not a bad idea- should be done every 2-3 years- but it probably won’t fix your problem.

Other areas to check is the shifter linkages, and the engine/tranmission mounts. The transmission might have a hard time shifting if the engine/transmission mounts are worn/broken.