Won't go into park

[turbojimmy]

This may belong in the trans section, but it's not really a problem with the trans itself. Note that everything was working fine - I didn't mess with anything that caused this problem.

Yesterday, I put the car in park - or the gear selector anyway - and went to shut the car off. The key wouldn't turn, and it turns out the trans was actually in reverse.

If I turn the collar on the steering column, it will go into park just fine. The shifter travels up to about reverse when it feels "light". It clicks into park, but the trans isn't actually in park. I gotta turn the column that extra little bit to get the trans to go into park.

So what gives?

I don't think it's an adjustment - all the other gears are where they're supposed to be with regard to the shifter travel. I looked up at the linkage - looks okay, nothing loose. Could it be the cable itself? I haven't taken it apart yet to look.

TIA,
Jim

 

[Ormand]

Neutral Start/Park Interlock

THere is a link which runs up from the trans to the collar on the steering column. It can get out of adjustment, and even though the trans shifts fine, the interlock in the column will keep the car from going into park, and engaging the steering wheel lock. Look under the car, and the adjustment is easy to see.
HTH

 

[topfuel]

Check the cable between the shifter and trans, it gets
frayed and does wierd stuff like that. Or, there is an adjustment
down by the trans linkage, it leads up to the shift collar via a
long rod. If the bolt loosens up in can mess up the adjustment.
Make sure the black plastic oval shaped bushings are still intact,
they are on the linkage where the "L shaped" shift collar rod goes through the linkage, lots of slop if those are bad.

 

[IrvJr]

Mine did that when the shifter cable got stretched out.

Scott

 

[OneQuikV6]

Jim,

Look here:

http://www.iland.net/~kpompe/frayed.jpg

Mine was doing the SAME thing. Would pull into gears (pulling shifter down) but would not push UP back into reverse, or park. Cable was frayed all to hell.

The link to the entier install is here:

http://www.iland.net/~kpompe/prostick.html

I'd bet this is the problem.

 

[1970gsx]

Did you install vacuum brakes? When I did, i had to undo the metal tab holding a bundle of wires near the booster for clearance. When I went to put it in park, the wires interfered with the shift linkage right at the steering column and firewall (engine compartment) and did what you described. It's worth a look...

 

[turbojimmy]

Thanks for the replies.....sounds like it's the cable. Anyone have a GM P/N for it?

Jim

 

[OneQuikV6]

Originally posted by turbojimmy
Thanks for the replies.....sounds like it's the cable. Anyone have a GM P/N for it?

Jim

B&M Pro Stick AWESOME shifter!

 

[turbojimmy]

Originally posted by OneQuikV6


B&M Pro Stick AWESOME shifter!

I saw your pics - looks awesome. I don't want to go through the hassle of replacing the console plate, though. Make sure you post pics of yours when done, though - I may change my mind.

Thanks,
Jim

 

[topfuel]

RIGHT ON OneQuikV6

Originally posted by OneQuikV6


B&M Pro Stick AWESOME shifter!

I'm almost finished installing my Pro Stick, this thing is SWEET!!!
At first, I didn't want to mess with the top plate either, but now
it's ALL GOOD
After some cutting and trimming, the top plate looks better than
the original one, I used .025 aluminum sheet to fabricate some
new trim for the top plate and it looks real good...
The replacement of my stock shifter was definately long overdue.
Mike: A fellow TB member told me about your website,
your pictures were very helpful and made the install a lot easier.
Thanks...

 

[OneQuikV6]

Re: RIGHT ON OneQuikV6

Originally posted by topfuel


I'm almost finished installing my Pro Stick, this thing is SWEET!!!
At first, I didn't want to mess with the top plate either, but now
it's ALL GOOD
After some cutting and trimming, the top plate looks better than
the original one, I used .025 aluminum sheet to fabricate some
new trim for the top plate and it looks real good...
The replacement of my stock shifter was definately long overdue.
Mike: A fellow TB member told me about your website,
your pictures were very helpful and made the install a lot easier.
Thanks...

Hey cool! Glad I could help. I new that lots of people like that shifter along with the Quarterstick, so I figured pictures might help When you get done with yours, try and get some pics of the top plate. I'd love to see what you did. Mine's still without one

 

[turbojimmy]

I'm an idiot

Well, turns out it was a missing retainer clip on the bracket bolted to the trans.

Found out AFTER I paid $66 for a new GM cable AND after removing the console (along with the gauges and Extender box stuck to it) and the cable itself. I looked under it, too, before I bought the new cable - nothing looked amiss.

But now I have an extra cable, which isn't a bad thing. I've amassed a lot of extra GM parts this way . And, I've worked two words that begin with "am" into this post.....I believe I get double word score for that.

Anyone know where I can get a clip online? Local auto parts stores don't have them, don't have time to crawl around the local junkyard. I'd like to have one mailed to me.....where to get one?

Thanks,
Jim