LouisvilleLT4

My car's been sitting outside and hasn't been started for about 4 months... one of the things that I notice now that it's sat so long is that when I move the shifter in and out of gears, it makes a lot of noise and feels like it's resisting somewhat.

The FSM says to squirt some engine oil into the shift linkage but I couldn't find any more elaboration on this. I did notice that there's a black "sack" under the car where the linkage is, and it feels like there's some oil or something sloshing around in it, and it looks like there's a fill hole or something in this sack. My question is, is this where I squirt the oil into the shift linkage, and if so, how do I go about getting the old gross oil out?

coupeguy2001

I think the problem is they mean lubricate it with a squirt of oil, not enough to accumulate any quantity.
If you see the linkage, you will understand the squirt of oil thing.
If there's a sack of fluid, you need to investigate, and remove the center console, and the upper shift boot and plate, and clean out the water that's in there.
That could be the problem .
also, I read somewhere that the steering lock linkage is part of the shifter linkage total package, and that it could cause rough shifting.

CentralCoaster

That is just a shifter boot to keep the linkage sealed off. The factory shifter has what looks like silicone lube. I wouldn't do anything to clean it out or wash away this lube unless you replace it with the same.

I doubt motor oil will do squat. It won't stay on there.

And the shifter feel is mostly from inside the trans itself.