2006 LE Hard Shifter

[firozhirji]

I have a 2006 Camry LE automatic.
It is very hard to shift the car into R or D from P.
I took it to a dealer and they lubricated "everything" and told me all was fine --there was no charge for this.
Still experiencing hard shifting and it is extreamly hard on cold days.
Any ideas what can be wrong? thanks

[jdmccright]

Three things come to mind:
1) When you took it to the dealer, did they also check the transmission fluid level and condition? Dumb question, yes, but I'm trying to discount the obvious for all.

2) Do you park the vehicle on a hill? If so, the vehicle will roll slightly so that the little parking pawl inside the transmission is put under pressure by gravity (the car wanting to roll downhill) and makes it harder to release it when you shift out of Park. To prevent this, engage the parking brake before you shift into Park. If the P-brake can't hold the car on the hill, then it needs to be adjusted.

3) Are you stepping on the brake before you try to shift out of Park? This is a standard safety feature on all vehicles. If the brake safety switch is faulty, it will not allow you to shift out of Park or make it very difficult.

Hope this helps!

[firozhirji]

Originally Posted by jdmccright

Three things come to mind:
1) When you took it to the dealer, did they also check the transmission fluid level and condition? Dumb question, yes, but I'm trying to discount the obvious for all.

2) Do you park the vehicle on a hill? If so, the vehicle will roll slightly so that the little parking pawl inside the transmission is put under pressure by gravity (the car wanting to roll downhill) and makes it harder to release it when you shift out of Park. To prevent this, engage the parking brake before you shift into Park. If the P-brake can't hold the car on the hill, then it needs to be adjusted.

3) Are you stepping on the brake before you try to shift out of Park? This is a standard safety feature on all vehicles. If the brake safety switch is faulty, it will not allow you to shift out of Park or make it very difficult.

Hope this helps!

Yes transmission fluid is OK. The car was not parked on a hill and I have my foot on the brake.
Since the weather has warmed up from below freezing the shiftinh is much less harder but still stiff.