It's a 1996 corolla ae102 motor 7A-FE with stock 5-speed tranny.
Yes it stays, I hold it softly with my index finger and that's all it takes for it not to jump back to neutral. The stick moves back and forth slightly, almost unnoticeable, as I step on accelerator and release respectively. After engaging 5th, if I accelerate making the stick move back slightly, will make it jump back to neutral.
I've taken the center console off and seen the shifter assembly, but didn't dear take anything apart. Do you guys think this is something in the shifter assembly, like a spring in a locking mechanism or someting? or would it be internal in the transmission gearbox?
thanks for the time!