My Shifter Doesnt Lock Into Its Positions???? - Third Generation F-Body Message Boards

IrocZ30589 · 06-24-2009, 09:19 PM

I can move my shifter freely without having to press the button down. I can even shift it freely with no key in the ignition. Why does it do this? And what do I need to do to fix it??? Thanks.

James

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Chezoom · 06-24-2009, 10:56 PM

check the cable that runs down the left side of the tranny pan, its the shift cable or linkage, i dont remeber

Net-Viper X · 06-24-2009, 11:45 PM

Will it change gears when you move it? If it stays in park the whole time then your cable is broke. Its not too hard to replace, but it will require you to jack the car enough to get under it.

Kevman · 06-25-2009, 07:09 AM

Shifter linkage.. When mine broke.. I was pushing it into park.. I drove home, 14km in first.

sam24th · 06-25-2009, 09:26 AM

Shifter cable broke. It should be like 25 bucks at advance auto parts or 50 bucks at Napa.

IrocZ30589 · 06-25-2009, 10:23 AM

But that cable wouldnt effect drivability would it? Because I can still drive it just fine, its just that i can go from 1'st to park with out any resistance.

sam24th · 06-25-2009, 10:43 AM

Ok its definitely not the shifter cable. Might be the other cable I forgot what its called but it goes from the shifter to the ignition. If you remove the console its the one to the right of the shifter cable. Its a safety cable to prevent you from pulling the car out of park when the key isnt in the ignition.

IrocZ30589 · 06-25-2009, 11:59 AM

Good thing I have 2 Camaro's. Pretty much whats going on is, its like the button is being held down so its not clicking in to its little "stop slots". I tried to trace that cable to see if its jammed but I didnt have time to pull the whole dash out and I cant seem to find where it comes back out by the ignition. Anybody have any advice on how to tackle this? Thanks.

84 1LE · 06-26-2009, 10:11 PM

That cable goes up the steering column.Its what lock the steering when the ignition is off.Have you tried removing the button to see if the plastic pin moves freely.Also does the car start in nuetral?If not then the shifter cable nedds to be adjusted.This can sometimes cause the detents not to engage properly allowing you to move the shifter back/forth w/out pushing the button.

chazman · 06-26-2009, 10:51 PM

Check the detent spring all the way at the bottom of the shifter. The spring might be broken.

IrocZ30589 · 06-26-2009, 11:04 PM

You know, sometimes the car would start in nuetral, most of the time it wouldnt. Also the shifter never really lined up with its markings, like when in OD it would look as if it was in D. The plastic pin moves freely. As for the spring, it has "spring" to it, I can still push it down a little more and it springs right back, just not into its little "lock spots". Also, does the fact that I can move the shifter freely without a key in the ignition help any?

jstoltz · 06-27-2009, 01:36 AM

could also be the nuetral safety switch on the shifter. I thought the spring at first also.

Boosted1.9 · 07-01-2009, 10:38 PM

I'm having the same problem as well, it engages all gears but the shifter moves as if the button is always depressed, anyone found a fix or culprit ? i cant seem to find what is going on the spring seems completely fine.

christine... · 07-01-2009, 10:51 PM

I have had somewhat of the same issues..I am NO mechanic..but one EXCELLENT word of advice I can offer you..When you have a vehicle 'behaving'this way..ALWAYS park it so no children..people can get rolled on..It really is somthing alot of people never think about,until it happens to your vehicle.Not saying you would not be cautious anyway...I just learned fast,and thankfully I was in him when he wanted to roll...in park...turned off.

Boosted1.9 · 07-01-2009, 10:55 PM

yeah at the moment its on blocks on level ground waiting for me to finish the front end rebuild/drop spindels/trans rebuild i think i am gonna replace the cables (detent/shifter) and see if that works when i RnR the trans

Chevy8588 · 07-01-2009, 11:06 PM

its the shift interlock cable, that you guys are thinking of, no a interlock cable will not cause this as the interlock cable only stops you from being able to push the button on your shifter in and pushing the shifter lock down when the ignition is on the off position, most LIKELY the spring that returns the shifter lock back up to the lock position is most likely broken, remove the shift knob, remove your shift panel and take a look inside, what is broken should be pretty evident after a little playing around inside.