Pontiac Repair: gear locks, gear locks, better luck next time

Question
i drive a standard 99 sunfire se (2.2L) when im driving i cant seem to get out of the first gear it feels like the shifter is locked into first i have to push really hard down to second or wiggle it and as well sumtimes i get out of first fine but then it doesnt want to enter second? this only seems to be the problem when the car is in motion once the car is stopped i can go thru all the gears with ease.... HELP!!! PLZ

Answer
Hey Jeff:

I though I gave you a pretty good answer to your question with out seeing the car It's really hard to give you an exact answer. I would have appreciated a better rating. Also if you read my header I stated right in there that I'm not a transmission guy and if you had transmission questions to ask one of the other experts. Well better luck next time. Have a good day. Remember this is a free service to you and we volunteer outr time to answer your questions!

Hey Jeff:

Well I'm not a transmission guy first off But I'll try to help you out.  The problem can be a few things and with out seeing it or feeling exactly what your talking about it's strictly a guess. It can be an issue inside the transmission it's self like a bad syncro gear that is what aids in smooth shifting into and out of each gear. It could be a shifter cable binding up But I doubt it because you don't have any other gears with the same issue. It could be a problem with the shifter it's self where it's wearing out and binding up when going from 1'st to second. those are all the variables I can think of right now. Good luck :}