Frozen Shifter

[Blarg]

Today after work I tried to shift into first and the shifter wouldn't budge at all! I couldn't move it side to side or up and down. I just kept hitting it (nicely) to the side and eventually it moved a little but felt like thick molasses for about 15 minutes then back to normal. The only thing I can think of is that when I washed my car yesterday at the car wash (I usually hand wash at home but it was too cold) water got onto the shift linkage and froze outside since it was really cold out today.

Will this go away eventually? Do I need to dry something off? How can I avoid this in the future?

TIA!

[beecha91]

Today after work I tried to shift into first and the shifter wouldn't budge at all! I couldn't move it side to side or up and down. I just kept hitting it (nicely) to the side and eventually it moved a little but felt like thick molasses for about 15 minutes then back to normal. The only thing I can think of is that when I washed my car yesterday at the car wash (I usually hand wash at home but it was too cold) water got onto the shift linkage and froze outside since it was really cold out today.

Will this go away eventually? Do I need to dry something off? How can I avoid this in the future?

TIA!

My S4 does it all the time recently now that its been in the close to zero or even below zero the last few weeks. Itll lock me out and wont go in any gear. Sliding it from side to side doesnt seem to help at all. I always let my car sit and warm up for 20-25 minutes every morning or after work. I found out tonight if I rev it up to 3-4k it slid right in. On my way home.. every hill I stopped at it locked me out again. Cars garage kept too, and after sitting in the mornings it will do it especially if it wasnt driven the day or night before.
Easy solution= warm weather

Don-

[Blarg]

At least I'm not alone, stinks that there isn't a better solution.

[Great White]

That sucks, shewt, I never thought something like this could happen. I was amazed that in Minneapolis they have stuff on the street where you can plug in your car to keep it warm (don't ask me, I have no idea how it works). I grew up on a place that never gets below 60 :-)

[jmars]

It was butt cold up in VT this past w/e and I ran into a similar issue. My 2001 S4 did the same thing.

[scoobycarolan]

Similar, but not as extreme experience B7 A4. After the car warms (2-3 minutes of driving or just 5K rpm in First) it's ok.

[BriAnders]

Happened to me a couple times lately, and the temps been in the single digits quite often the past week. but even still when its a little warmer (20's & 30's) the shifter is still a little stiff.

That sucks, shewt, I never thought something like this could happen. I was amazed that in Minneapolis they have stuff on the street where you can plug in your car to keep it warm (don't ask me, I have no idea how it works). I grew up on a place that never gets below 60 :-)

...those outlets are for block heaters. they're used for preheating your engine's coolant and oil. it helps prevents wear on a lot of engine components by radiating heat to surrounding components

[sdjeff]

Mine does it every once in a while too.. i found if you shift it down to second and than up to first it usually fixes it. Try that.