I recently took out the center console and replaced the cig lighter(it was blowing fuses) and done some minor maintenance. Now after putting the console back in and putting the handle back on the the shifter I cannot get it to move. When I push the button on the handle it just feels loose and it will not come out of park. I am new to this so I am not sure if missed something when I put it back together. Maybe I am just not getting the handle on properly. Any thoughts would be appreciated. IT's a 91 trans am with the T handle shifter.

 

Did you take out the stick that goes into the lever first? I know in the camaro there is a stick so when you puch the button, that pushes the stick down letting you move the shifter. If that stick isn't there, it won't work. It should be white and weirdly shaped.

 

The stick is still there. When I put the handle back on though I feel nothing when I push the button on the handle. That is why I am thinking maybe I did not get the handle on good enough but I cannot seem to get it to go down anymore. I also pushed the stick down with my hand but it still wouldn't move out of park.

 

Sounds like the handle isn't seated correctly. Take it off again and try seating it. You should feel some resistance when the button is pushed. If there isn't much resistance, it's not activating.

 

My best guess is that something is wrong with the cable connected to the column. You should be able to move it if the key is on.

 

Assuming you put everything back together correctly, it sounds like a cable problem. They tend to break near the transmission lever and you cant see it from up top. I have also seen them break at the plastic end piece that actually bolts to the gear lever.

Also, pull the shifter plate and look down at the cables and make sure you reattached everything correctly to the shifter. The cable should have a clip securing it.

 

was the car sitting for awhile? sounds like ur cars stuck on the parking prawl.... its a little metal indent the transmission slips into when u park the car and dont use the ebrake to hold the vehicle in place... the parking prawl makes it so the car doesnt move on its own....

when it happened to mine i just kept wiggling the shifter and trying as hard as i could to break it free. broke it and now the car shifts when i want it, but there security of teh shifter not moving while driving is not there anymore because if i elbow the shifter it can go into nuetral while driving...

 

 

when it happened to mine i just kept wiggling the shifter and trying as hard as i could to break it free. broke it and now the car shifts when i want it, but there security of teh shifter not moving while driving is not there anymore because if i elbow the shifter it can go into nuetral while driving...[/QUOTE]

I think they all do this. Both of mine did it, just learn to avoid the shifter

 

Thanks, I finally got it to work. I didn't have the handle seated properly.