Chevrolet Repair: impala trans, chevy impala, cable column

Question
I have a 2002 Chevy Impala 3.4L v6. Over a period of a week the shift lever seemed to get increasingly stiff and eventually was unable to move the lever.  I put a bit too much force into it and snapped the shifter cable.  I replaced the cable (column), but very hard to move the shifter arm that comes off the transmission.  I had to use a piece of wood and hammer to get it into park and still unable to move leer with new cable attached. Car was shifting / driving fine prior though we did have heavy rains and I drove through some high water around the time this started.  Do you think this is an internal transmission problem / time to donate the car to charity?

Answer
HI BRENDAN,IF THIS CAR RUNS AND DRIVES GOOD,DON'T GIVE AWAY.FIX IT. YOU SAY THIS HAPPENED AFTER HIGH WATERS,,MORE THEN LIKELY THE SHIFT ROD GOING INTO THE TRANSMISSION CASE IS RUSTING UP,CAUSING THIS HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM. LIFT THE CAR UP AND LOOK FOR THE ROD GOING INTO THE TRANS CASE,TRY PUTTING SOME PENATRATING OIL ON THIS SHAFT,LET IT [SOAK REAL GOOD] AND THEN PUT MORE OIL ON IT WHILE TRYING TO MOVE THE SHIFT LEVER. IF THIS DOES NOT WORK REMOVE THE PAN AND GET INSIDE TO TAKE A LOOK.IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THE LEVER ON THE INSIDE BY THE VALVE BODY IS ACTING UP [SHIFT VALVE].. BUT I THINK YOU WILL FIND THE PROBLEM IS WHERE THE SHIFT ROD GOES INTO THE CASE ITSELF. HOPE THIS HELPS. TOM...