Why is my shifter so hard to put into gear?

I got the pics your right you did get a single cable but that looks like from the pic its a shift cable for a automatic transmission lol.So again the manual shift cables come as a pair aftermarket or factory parts.Also the cable that is broken with zip ties on it is the one that always breaks.So the link for the repair kit on ebay will fix it.Also its closest to the drivers seat unless you have a right hand drive car.You would fix it from the drivers side.

I understand everything your saying except how the linkage is closest to the drivers seat. I can look at it all day and it's still gonna be closer to the passenger seat than the drivers seat lol. And I don't have a right hand drive car haha. The other linkage is attached to an "arm" that is to the left of the shifter rod. So wouldnt that linkage that's to the left be closer to the drivers seat than the linkage that's directly under the rod?

and I'm ordering the ebay bushing as we speak. it seems very simple to install. I've seen the Dorman ones you were talking about at some parts stores and they look very flimsy and have some sort of retaining ring. Also it costs more than the one you recommended to me.

Alright the cable is facing towards the drivers seat iam not going to split hairs with you here.I have better things to do then that like help other people with there cars.Make the repair and let me know how it comes out

So I finally received my bushing from eBay after the post office tried to deliver it to the wrong address and it delayed me getting it by 3 days but thats a different frustrating story. I installed it with no problems and the shifter goes thru the gears pretty fine now. The only thing left now is that there is still a lot of play in the shifter. I thought this bushing would get rid of the play but it didnt. Is there any way I can get rid of the play?

That cable end only repairs the cable end itself.You have 260,000 miles on the car the shifter itself could be worn out or broken i have seen that before.Where is the actual play at?

I'm not exactly sure. The shifter just has a lot of side to side movement. What should I inspect or look at? Any certain ways to pinpoint where the play is coming from?

Thats really hard to explain you really just have to look at it while shifting.Really only three places there could be play the cables the shifter or the shift tower on the transmission itself.Most likely from what i have seen its usually the shifter where shift the gears inside.

You're talking about the actual like shifter that I touch with my hand to cycle thru the gears right? I just want to make sure I'm following what your saying lol. The shifter with the boot. If that's what you are talking about, should I just replace the shifter?

Yes the actual shifter you put your hand on and shift thru the gears.Iam not going to tell you replace it without knowing if its bad.Move it around and see if it has excessive play?

It does. It has a lot of side to side movement when it's in the gear. If I har it in first gear, I can wiggle it side to side all the way until where third gear would be.

It's kind of hard to find the gears too. Im used to it so it doesn't affect me as much but someone that isn't used to could possibly put it into first gear from second thinking it was third gear.

It sounds like a worn out shifter assembly.Do you have a pick apart near by you@

Do I have a what near me? Sorry. I didn't quiet understand what you said in that last reply.

A pick a part junk yard where you go and pull your own parts?

Ohhhh ok. I've actually never heard it called that before. But yea I have plenty around. Do you recommend I get one from there?

I would go there and compare it to yours to make sure its bad.If it is then get one there i would if it was my car.

How do you take one of those out? And are certain years interchangeable?

I would say 1995-1999 would be a safe year range the center consoles are the same.To remove one you remove the center console shifter cables and unbolt it.I dont know if they changed the actual shifter in 2000 or not.I have only replaced the earlier ones then that.I would try to find the newest one you can like 1999.There is plenty of them in the pick apart atleast the pick a parts around here.

Sounds easy enough. Worst case scenario, if I can't find one at a junkyard, how much is a new one? Do you have a link that you can show me like the bushing?

A break down of the shifter bushings components etc no it comes as a assembly so your not going to find a break down of that.Not sure how much they are havent sold one to a customer in years.You can try a www.parts.com they have a lot of factory parts and hard to find parts.I have ordered parts from them before.

I'm having a really hard time looking for the shifter assembly on that website and any other website. My best bet is probably the pick apart.

I told you to try pick a part first that way you can compare your shifter the ones there.

Yea but I couldn't get to a pick apart today so I was checking the prices on new ones first but I couldn't find any prices.

Like i said before since you cant tell if yours is bad you will have to go to pick a part and compare it to yours.I looked on www.parts.com couldnt find the shifter ethier its going to be expensive new.