I've been noticing on my 03 CVT that the shifter does not want to move from park to any other position. I push the brake and push the button on the shifter to move it, but it's stuck there. After wrestling with it for a few seconds, it finally moves into position. I have noticed this start when it got cold out. I have also discovered that if I pull up on the shifter a bit, it seems to move more easily.

Also I've noticed while I'm driving that my car is now emitting a significant rumbling when in drive. It doesn't sound like it is coming from the engine or exhaust as it seems to rumble at a higher or lower pitch depending on the speed, not the RPMs.

Any ideas on either one of these issues? Please let me know. Thanks in advance.

 

Mmmmm... I'm going to venture that you may need a new transmission. I hope I'm wrong, though.

 

Yes, I hope you are wrong as well. What leads you to believe that the transmission needs replacing? Are these some of the signs of a dying transmission?

 

Not sure about the tranny but the rumbling could just be your tires starting to cup and worst case could be wheel bearing going bad.

 

Hopefully it's not your tranny going bad. It could very well be the "lockout" mechanism (I think that's what it's called) - basically a switch that allows you to engage the gear selector ONLY AFTER depressing the brake - I know you mentioned using the brake, but that switch (hopefully) is all that's faulty.
Greg

 

Just to follow up on this post...

First off, thanks for the replies. I was just out in my car earlier today to get lunch and wound up wrestling with the shifter for close to 2 minutes straight. I could not for the life of me get the shifter to move! It's not really that cold out today (upper 40s) so I'm not so sure the weather has an affect on this. Any idea on how much this lockout mechanism would cost to replace? Someone at my work who has a mini suggested to turn the steering wheel a bit. I'll try that also and hope that solves it. Thanks again for the help!

PS: The rumbling was fixed. Turns out the wheel bearings were bad along with worn rotors and brakes. Not cheap to fix.