98 Civic hard to shift into reverse/ drive

[JohnDD]

On my 98 Honda Civic automatic it is sometimes hard to move the shift lever into gear when stopped. Most of the time the lever moves easily. Would this be a mechanical issue? or is it likely to be in the transmission? Anyone else had similar problems?

[snshddog]

Most likely it is a bad ground from the engine/trans to the body. I fixed tons of them. There is a pivot at the trans behind a small cover, if the pivot is not siezed its the cable, usually fixable by moving the shifter all the way back and forth for a full minute or so, then add a ground wire from the engine to the body or battery. Stray electricity from a bad ground welds the cable inside to the covering. Did one just last week. I found on that particular body style it is a problem and even a new cable didn't last without the added ground wire.

[Jeff Collision]

Take it off and see if it is loose only at the shifter. If it is loose, and at least narrow it down. Also try to change the rubber holders of the shifter.