Hey guys,

I have an 86 firebird, the automatic shifter's button is stuck in to the shifter, causing the shifter to be able to be somewhat erratic when you try and put it into gear. Any suggestions on what I should do to fix it?

 

Have you taken it off of the selector rod to inspect?

 

Thanks for replying so quickly, honestly I am pretty new to fixing up cars and this is my first project. I took off the shifter cover as it had appeared the previous honor didnt feel unscrewing the panels and just cracked it open, in doing so I noticed that there was what looked like some plastic piece broken. What do i have to do to remove the selector rod. Thanks again for the help.

 

From you first post it would seem that the problem might be in the selector handle ****? To remove it, on the forward facing side (toward the radio side) there's a small steel staple clip. Use a small screw driver to pull it forward enough to remove the selector ****. When you pull the steel clip forward, pull up on the handle. It should come off.

Once the selector **** is removed, check the plastic dowel for up and down movement in the selector shaft. If the spring is good in that, the problem is in the selector handle **** you just removed. If the spring in the selector shaft itself is bad, or the **** spring is shot, then you're probably going to be looking for good used replacement parts. Those are easy enough to find at most wrecking yards or through someone parting a car (check this site's classified add section).

Good luck