The shifter lever on my 03 Excursion is very tight and requires quite a bit of effort to move from position to position. Any ideas what would cause this...and how to fix? I saw a writeup on how to remove the plastic pieces on the top and bottom of the steering column but can't find it now. Hoping I don't have a corroded shifter cable.

 

I have had a TRS freeze up and cause this.

You could go under the truck and disconnect the shift cable where it attaches to the transmission. If the column then moves easily it is the TRS holding it up.

 

What's a TRS? And if it's froze, how do I unfreeze?
And thanks by the way for the reply.

 

Transmission Range Sensor. If it is frozen you replace it with a new one. It is the sensor where the shift cable attaches to the driver's side of the trans. It is the part with the wiring harness attached.