Pls help squeaky gear shift

[Roxi]

(I have a toyota corolla S 2003) I noticed today that whenever I shift gears I hear an awful creaky/squeaky noise and the stick is more difficult to move than normal. I can't really afford to go to the mechanic and I need this car to get to work. Help me please!

[oldcodger]

Hi,

Its more common the hear a squeaking sound from the clutch pedal when changing gears, thats been covered in the forum many times.

Problems with the gearchange assembly is more unusual, though its easily accessible by removing the gaitor/panel around the stick which reveals the stick lever assembly. Give that a spray with some grease and see it improves things.

It could be that the cables have become dry though not as easy to lubricate, they might have started to fray which means replacing them.

Might be worth checking the gearbox end of the cables that everything there if free to move.

 

 

 

[Catlover]

Old Codger covered it well.

If after lifting gator around the gear lever and spraying some lubricant it still squeaky, as OCodg says could be cables. Let’s face it, they probably 18 year old and if they fraying they could snap and leave you without any gear, so I recommend lube the gear stick, if not cured, get a local mechanic with a good reputation to look at it.