Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Sticky shift in cold weather

I don't know if I would say normal. I remember seeing different posts about hard shifting. I just wanted to let you know that you're not the only one with this problem.

Most of here has already switched to Mobil 1 ATF. Also some will add the friction modifier to the Mobil 1 ATF, this is called the "tranny cocktail" You'll need (3) quarts of Mobil 1 ATF which is about $18.00 plus tax and the friction modifier is about $5.00 or so. Most oil change places have the pump to evacuate and replace the fluid in the gearbox, shouldn't cost you more than $10.00 to have this done

Not sure what you mean by "shifting is difficult". What specifically is difficult? Is there a clunking sound? Is it hard to get into gear?

Anyway, here is a thought...

When was the last time you changed your brake fluid? And at what level is the fluid at in the brake reservoir?

The clutch uses brake fluid in the hydraulic system. If you have old brake fluid (older than a year or two), then it might make shifting tougher. Brake fluid decays over time. It absorbs moisture and that moisture might be freezing in the lines. Or if the brake fluid is low, then you might have gotten air into the clutch hydraulic system. If your brake fluid is low, then you might also want to check for a leak.