This has happened twice now in the last two days. I can move the lever left and right, but cannot move it for and aft.

The first time it happened I hadn't driven my car for 5 days and it had been cold, snowing sleeting etc, and my car lives outdoors. To get it unstuck, I made sure I was lined up with the 3-4 slot and just hit it forward, hard, with the heel of my hand, it popped loose and seems normal from there on. It did the same thing this am after I drove it over 150 miles yesterday. And yes, it's very cold here, down into the teens at night...........

Obviously something's freezing up, but what? and why can I easily move it left/right then?

 

Moving fore and aft causes the cables to slide inside their sleeves to initiate the gear change. Side to side just causes the mechanism to select one cable or the other without actually moving them. I'm guessing moisture in the cable sleeves is freezing.

 

Not exactly.

Earlier shift cables weren't sealed as well and can freeze. There is a bulletin describing this complaint (for a specific production range mind you). You most likely need new cables, but without checking it myself I can't say 100%

 

Thanks, I think I need a service manual........

 

Freezing shifter cables. See the TSB mentioned in this link:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...d.php?t=121642

 

/\ +1 that happened to me. got it fixed and hasn't happened since.

 

I had the shifter replaced three years ago due to water getting into the shift cable. The new cars have a different design and I have the new part in mine. It was annoying ot have to wait ten minutes for the shifter to thaw before driving away. Good luck!