hey i knoticed that when in first gear only with my foot off the cltuch that if i push the gear shifter to the left like not out of gear but like into the walls of the slot that it sits in it will make a grinding noise or if it leans agianst it on its own sometimes i hear it faintly at about 2400 to 2800 rpms. Any ideas as to what this may be? the car has 35.5k and ive only had it for 1.5k..... could it just be the metal plate vibrating agianst the shifter?

 

I'd say pick up an aftermarket shifter if you don't have one because its bushings could be worn. You'll love the feel of the new shifter either way.

This is just my input. It shouldn't have any other transmission issues at 35k miles, the last owner probably did something to damage the shifter... left it in 1st while stopped and bumped it with something hard. Who knows.

 

is this damaging my tansmission is the grind coming from the transmission inside or is it just the shifter? it only does it sometimes the gear shifter has to sit in this one spot

 

It's very likely coming from inside the transmission. Because there is something wrong with the shifter, it's causing the gear to not mesh properly (slightly out of line) causing a slight grind. Is it damaging it? Only very little, but if you just let it go for a while, when you change the fluid in the transmission you'll have a ton of shavings coming out. It's not good for it either way. If it isn't doing it when it is always in first then you can probably let it go, a little occasional grind is going to take a very long time to take it's toll... Up to you still.

I'd suggest trying a new aftermarket shifter... almost can't go wrong with it anyway.