auto trans kick down ???

hi, i have a 1997 dodge neon highline. last summer, the kick down shaft froze , and when i tried to pass another vehicle, it put the transmission into reverse. it stalled the engine, and broke the shift cable. but the transmission has not given us any trouble since. since the initial freeze up (which is rust, corrosion, and dirt, NOT ICE) it has frozen up 2 additional times. so far, with some heat, penetrating oil, and some elbow grease, i have been able to get it working freely again. the car has over 200,000 miles on it, but the first 199,000 were trouble free in this area. i am curious if this is a common problem, and if so, if there is a permanent cure (besides wrecking the transmission).

Two things a Chrysler transmission doesn't have a kick-down cable it is a throttle position cable. The problem is that the battery is mounted above it and it happens a lot. I always smear grease on the lever when I have the battery out.

I fashioned a plastic cover out of a soda bottle, to prevent battery acid from dripping on the two concentric levers. It was a hack that didn't last very long. Maybe someone else can come up with a better idea.

it is really stupid for chrysler to put a battery tray over this part, and not come up with a way to protect these levers.