I am able to shift my transmission whether the steering column is locked or unlocked. I know one of the previous owners had the transmission out and must not have put something back together right.

What mechanism on our cars (specifically mine listed below) prevents the shifter from moving when the column is locked? I'd like that to be functional again.

Thanks in advance!

 

If you have your console uncovered (take the top panel out) you will see two cables that connect to the front of the shifter. One of these is tied to the column (which is why when you put the car from Park into Reverse, or any gear, a section of the column rotates.

I recently had issues with my shifter acting up and the problem was that cable getting in a bind. There is a chance that yours is not hooked up if you are able to shift with the key off (i.e. column locked).

 

Thanks, that's exactly what I needed to know. I'll take a look. I recently had the console lid off and didn't notice anything out of the ordinary. I wonder if the cable is disconnected on the column side...

 

You're Welcome. That's possible, and now that i'm thinking about it more the cable may be more to the driver's side of the shifter than actually on the front, it's been a few months since mine was apart but if you take the shifter plate off you'll see it plain as day.

 

The previous owner had no idea how to work on the steering column...or anything else for that matter. LOL

He used wire nuts to splice wires underhood, among other things. SMH

 

fits the stereotype of these cars I suppose lol.

 

LOL!

I'm going to to what I can to not perpetuate that stereotype.