Shifter is very stiff and difficult to move

[Mopar Steve]

Shifter is very stiff and difficult to move after it sits for a while. After the car warms up and I have driven it a short distance, it loostens up a bit but is still tight. Is the problem in the shifter or the trans?

 

[Viper X]

When was the trans fluid / gear oil changed last?

 

[Chemeng]

Motor mounts can make the shifter stick. Do you feel more vibration than usual?

 

[Roysviper]

Check on the floorboard under the clutch pedal and see if you find any brake fluid leak down there...check your brake fluid and clutch fluid levels......if it gets worse, you won't even be able to shift it at all.......last time that happened to me I replaced clutch sleeve, clutch, pressure plate and flywheel...$3000 later and I did the labor....hope you don't have to go there,.....good luck Mine was worse case possibility......

Shifter is very stiff and difficult to move after it sits for a while. After the car warms up and I have driven it a short distance, it loostens up a bit but is still tight. Is the problem in the shifter or the trans?

 

[Mopar Steve]

Thanks for your responses. 1. Not motor/trans mounts they are fine. (also this wouldnt change on operating temp and storage) 2. Not the slave cylinder, no leaks and not typical of my symptoms. 3 Fluid is fresh maybe one year or 1200 miles. (all my flids are always fresh)

These don't match the issue.

Maybe I can describe it better. engine running or not, with the shifter in a neutral position, wigling back and forth it feels like it pulling through extra thick peanut butter. When it gets warm, it moves exactly as it should. There is NO problem getting it in gear or shifting between gears just very "thick" feeling.

 

[JLorello]

Did you inspect your lower shift boot? It could be torn and getting caught in a weird orientation. As the rubber warms up it gets more pliable.

 

[swexlin]

Very odd Steve. Last time I had the car out, after it had been in the cold garage, shifter and clutch were stiff, but fine as soon as the fluids warmed up. Are you sure it's just not cold fluid after letting the car sit?

 

[Steve-Indy]

What year is your Viper?...and type of fluid?

 

[Mopar Steve]

03 Viper, all Mopar stock replacement fluids.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Sounds like our 03 with stock fluid...worse in cool weather.

 

[swexlin]

Sounds like our 03 with stock fluid...worse in cool weather.

Same here with my 03, but I know Steve's car, and it is in perfect condition. Which is why this is odd.

 

[SlayerLS1]

Did you inspect your lower shift boot? It could be torn and getting caught in a weird orientation. As the rubber warms up it gets more pliable.

I had this happen when I installed my shift knob. I didn't realize the lower boot had gotten bunched up in a weird way. It would feel like I was getting some resistance at random times. It's worth looking at - 5 minute inspect/fix.

 

[USMCLY]

Mine is hard to shift when its cold, after warm up it shifts normal.

 

[VYPR BYT 94]

Motor mounts can make the shifter stick. Do you feel more vibration than usual?

I had this happen when I installed my shift knob. I didn't realize the lower boot had gotten bunched up in a weird way. It would feel like I was getting some resistance at random times. It's worth looking at - 5 minute inspect/fix.

Neither of these explains the improvements after the warmup.

... Fluid is fresh maybe one year or 1200 miles. (all my flids are always fresh)

These don't match the issue.

Maybe I can describe it better. engine running or not, with the shifter in a neutral position, wigling back and forth it feels like it pulling through extra thick peanut butter. When it gets warm, it moves exactly as it should. There is NO problem getting it in gear or shifting between gears just very "thick" feeling.

Hmmm
About the only thing that makes sense is a long shot but here goes...

Maybe you can call the manufacturer and ask if perhaps they recently experienced a bad run of fluids... maybe the formulation was off for a short period of time in production before someone caught it and you got hold of some bad product that was meant to be disposed of.

Sounds like it's abnormally sticky until heated up.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Take these observations however you wish:

It has been my experience that stock Vipers with factory fill Mopar Dexon II-e (1992-1995), Dexton III (1996-1998), and ATF+4 (2008-2010) are consistantly easier to shift when cold that stock Vipers with factory fill Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 (OEM fill starting in 1999 and used through 2006 model years). As many already know, the TSB covering Neutral Gear Rattle (NGR) issued in 1998 allowed replacement of the Dexron with Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 (1994-1998...skipping 1992 and 1993) which helped to diminish the NGR.

Without taking measurements to actually measure the different forces needed to move the gear selector in the same car, I can affirm that indeed the Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 feels "stiffer" when "cold". This is not new info...as it has been discussed here for many years.

But, just for the sake of argument, I did a non-blinded, non-scientific, subjective assessment of these fluids today in 6 Vipers...all of which have been "static" for at least one month and all engines "off" for at least one month:.

1996 R/T 10...transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Dexron III ...easy to shift (YES...moving to ATF+4 on next fluid change).

1997 GTS......transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Dexron III ...easy to shift (YES...moving to ATF+4 on next fluid change).
2001 GTS.....transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85...more resistance to shifting.

1999 ACR......transmission housing 53 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85...more resistance to shifting.

2008 SRT Coupe...transmission housing 55 degrees Fahrenheit (it sits above to 2010 ACR)...Mopar ATF+4...easy to shift.

2010 ACR vert "soft-core" transmission housing 53 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar ATF+4...easy to shift.

Probably, more significantly, when driving these Vipers on the same day(such as two months ago), the differences stated above were quite obvious.

Bottom line...I'm not too worried about Mopar Steve's Viper unless more pathology is described in a subsequent post.

Since many of us are stuck talking about Vipers instead of driving them due to the weather, we need some entertainment...so let the flak fly !!

 

[ACELLR8]

Steve,

My wife's 01 has been this way since we bought it in 03. This past winter I put a new slave cylinder and clutch kit in it and there was no improvement. It is really stiff when cold and as it warms up it gets much smoother but never as smooth as my 95 which has twice as many miles on it. I find it strange as I know they both have the same trans in them. I even looked on the forums through the years and could never find an answer.

Also replaced the Tranny fluid with 75W-85 synthetic, maybe I need to switch back to the Dexon.

 

[ACELLR8]

Take these observations however you wish:

It has been my experience that stock Vipers with factory fill Mopar Dexon II-e (1992-1995), Dexton III (1996-1998), and ATF+4 (2008-2010) are consistantly easier to shift when cold that stock Vipers with factory fill Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 (OEM fill starting in 1999 and used through 2006 model years). As many already know, the TSB covering Neutral Gear Rattle (NGR) issued in 1998 allowed replacement of the Dexron with Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 (1994-1998...skipping 1992 and 1993) which helped to diminish the NGR.

Without taking measurements to actually measure the different forces needed to move the gear selector in the same car, I can affirm that indeed the Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85 feels "stiffer" when "cold". This is not new info...as it has been discussed here for many years.

But, just for the sake of argument, I did a non-blinded, non-scientific, subjective assessment of these fluids today in 6 Vipers...all of which have been "static" for at least one month and all engines "off" for at least one month:.

1996 R/T 10...transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Dexron III ...easy to shift (YES...moving to ATF+4 on next fluid change).

1997 GTS......transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Dexron III ...easy to shift (YES...moving to ATF+4 on next fluid change).
2001 GTS.....transmission housing 59 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85...more resistance to shifting.

1999 ACR......transmission housing 53 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar Synthetic Manual Transmission Lubricant 75W/85...more resistance to shifting.

2008 SRT Coupe...transmission housing 55 degrees Fahrenheit (it sits above to 2010 ACR)...Mopar ATF+4...easy to shift.

2010 ACR vert "soft-core" transmission housing 53 degrees Fahrenheit...Mopar ATF+4...easy to shift.

Probably, more significantly, when driving these Vipers on the same day(such as two months ago), the differences stated above were quite obvious.

Bottom line...I'm not too worried about Mopar Steve's Viper unless more pathology is described in a subsequent post.

Since many of us are stuck talking about Vipers instead of driving them due to the weather, we need some entertainment...so let the flack fly !!

Great information to know and thanks for sharing. Considering switching to the ATF+4 now to see if it improves.

Does not explain why my 95 shifts so smooth compared to the 01 and they both have the same fluid. Either way I may switch to the ATF+4 to see if it improves.

 

[PeterMJ]

Did you drop some ****** in there?

 

[Mopar Steve]

Did you drop some ****** in there?

That's the help I was looking for! LOL

 

[Steve-Indy]

Steve, one thing that is problematic with my post is that you and I may have a different opinion as to "stiff".

If this is a new problem for your Viper but only noticed in say 25-35 degree weather, I'd say sit it out and see what happens as Spring approaches.

Tom Sessions may have some more meaningful facts for you as I happened to get a call from him as I was posting.

Good luck !!

 

[purplesnake]

Steve, one thing that is problematic with my post is that you and I may have a different opinion as to "stiff".

If this is a new problem for your Viper but only noticed in say 25-35 degree weather, I'd say sit it out and see what happens as Spring approaches.

Tom Sessions may have some more meaningful facts for you as I happened to get a call from him as I was posting.

Good luck !!

Steve,

At your advanced age, I'm not sure you are qualified to give either a subjective, or for that matter, an objective opinion as to what "stiff", is!

 

[VYPR BYT 94]

Steve,

At your advanced age, I'm not sure you are qualified to give either a subjective, or for that matter, an objective opinion as to what "stiff", is!

Ah man... that joke is below the belt.

 

[Steve-Indy]

Cold, very cold !!!

 

[agdetail]

i thought it was normal for the shifter to be stiff for a cold startup.

i can barley move mine in the morning and i just changed it with factory oil about 1000 miles ago.

also does get a whole lot easier once its warmed up. was told all t56 trans are like this

also did the whoel woodhouse engine and trans mount last year. didnt help with the shifting

 

[VIPER R]

Do you have any fellow Viper owners nearby, maybe you can arrange a side by side test to see if there is a major difference.

 

[swexlin]

He has plenty of us near by! Trust me, Steve has forgotten more about these cars than most of us will know, so when he says somthing is "off", it's "off"!!

 

[Mopar Steve]

He has plenty of us near by! Trust me, Steve has forgotten more about these cars than most of us will know, so when he says somthing is "off", it's "off"!!

LOL, thanks Scott. I have owned 5 Vipers so I have had some comparison "feel".

I am likely going to pull the shifter this weekend and see what I can find. I suspect it may be as simple as cold thick fluid, but it just seems tighter than what that would feel like.

 

[PeterMJ]

Do you have any fellow Viper owners nearby, maybe you can arrange a side by side test to see if there is a major difference.

Viper owners meeting up to discuss stiffness matters, hmmm...

 

[chorps]

Viper owners meeting up to discuss stiffness matters, hmmm...

No wonder that Ralph wants a different class of buyers for the Gen V.