Possibly tranny problems, maybe the cold weather?

[Onimacus]

I just drove from Texas to Washington two weeks ago. And the air is significantly colder now.

Its a 1998 SL2 with 113k miles on it. Automatic. Bone stock.

When I get into my car and start it up I usually sit for a few minutes to let it warm up. But the problem is that its been staying in gear a little longer than normal and then it feels like it slams into the next gear. Kind of sounds like I hit something if I am accelerating slightly faster.

Don't know if this is just the cold weather because the car is not used to it or what the problem could be.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it. But I also have difficulty getting my shifter from Park into any of the other gears. Once out of park the shifter moves easily, its just getting it out of park always takes some time, and I have not really found a way to make it easy.

Sometimes if I hit the gas it will come out, sometimes not. Sometimes if i turn the wheel it will come out, sometimes not. Sometimes I just have to play with it for a few minutes before it will release.

[saturnspeed_12]

well when have you had a trans flush and fill with a new filter? have you checked fluid level? but normally autos shift good when cold, then if a problem, get bad when warm. if it isnt just an issue with old fluid and filter, it could be the torque converter or valve body. ive known a few that needed new valve bodies but not a frequent issue. id just check the level first, if you know how to actually check it, and then at least change the fluid and filter if you dont flush it, but a flush is best since fluid will stay in the cooler lines and torque converter.

now as of the getting out of park, do you park on an incline or does the car roll back once you put it in park? you might want to try and put the parking brake on before you put it in park and get out of it. if then its easy to get out of park, thats normal. if the car rolls back when in park, it can lock in gear and be very difficult to get out if it comes out.