Today I was driving along and noticed that my cars shifter became had to shift all of a sudden. It felt like winter just after the car had been sitting in 30 below temps but only it was 85 degrees outside. It slightly sounds like its binding when shifting and engaging gears. I checked the fluids and they look fine! I drove it a little tonight and noticed it shifting normally. Any thoughts? Very strange. I have checked the brakes and they don't drop to the floor. They do seem a little soft though but the fluids seem fine.


cheers,

JJ

 

You might crawl under the car and look for anything that is obviously out of place or causing some problem with the shift mechanism. Maybe some cable came disconnected, or some road debris is interferring with something. If there is nothing obvious, then you will need to take it to a dealer. It likely is something wrong with the shift meachanism rather than some internal problem with the gearbox...well, hopefully, anyway!

 

I had a loose, notchy feel to the shifter when I found a leaking battery the problem. That bat had dripped acid from the MC front battery box onto the nylon shifter heim joint. The cable heim eventually failed popping off the upper trans mounted shift linkage.

Mini replaced both cables the battery and the battery box. She shifts like butter at those temps, get a dealer inspection.