Got a 95 lt1 with 156k miles. 26k on new engine, less then 1.5k on a rebuilt transmission (reverse went out, took it to a shop; sunshell was cracked, 3rd gear drum was paper thin and sending metal into torque converter, flywheel was missing 3 teeth; my mechanic told me he had no idea how this car was going forward lol)

Anyway, i'm having a problem with the gear lever in it; recently the button you have to mash down on top of the lever is becoming very difficult to push down, in some cases, i couldn't psychically get it down leaning my body weight into it while my palm is on top of it (I had to shut the car down, wait, then try again)

This used to happen rarely, though i always could get it when it was being difficult but now its occuring alot more frequently and becoming impossible to force the button down at times. Its just these past 2-3 weeks its been acting up.

Could this be the gear level itself being old and getting stuck, or is this a transmission problem?

here is the lever:


What are some good ***** to replace this thing with? Should i try to find a leather firebird one off ebay?

 

It isn't the transmission, there is a cable that runs from the shifter to the trans, nothing to do with that button.

I don't think that replacing the **** will cure your problem. I'd start pulling the center console apart to get to the shifter's mechanism to clean out any debris and grease it a little bit, to at least wd-40 it. I'm sure your problem is there.

If you were having trouble actually shifting it from P to D (for example) it might be a transmission or transmission cable problem.

 

thank you! I def will later today!

 

try adusting the cable, look here Adjust A4 Trans Linkage
to get the **** off to clean you pull the staple looking retainer at the front of the **** out and it should come off pulling up. you may have to pull the center console and clean and lube the button lock.

 

Could be your safety interlock mechanism (brake pedal operated reverse lockout, call it what you want) isn't unlocking the button fully.
You need to remove the console top to see what the lockout is or isn't doing.

 

could be something as simple as a dirty shifter mechanism. did you ever spill any coffee, soda, sweet tea, etc in your center console?(damn cupholder is notorious for this I've found) It could just be gummed up. I had a similar problem in my 94. Instead of not shifting though, the shift lock wouldnt unlock and thus I couldnt get my key out. A well placed warm soaked sponge and some WD-40 should do the trick