1980 Auto trans shifter lock missing ?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 1
From: west central INDIANA
1980 Auto trans shifter lock missing ?
Can any one with an 80 help me. I can move my shifter any time, with the keys removed. It seems there should be a lock of some kind, to prevent this. I have looked everywhere I see no sign of any, that may have been removed. I also have an assembly manual,and an NCRS book. But I can find nothing. Thanks.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 6,001
Likes: 113
From: Saginaw Michigan
Federal Law only requires that the steering or the shifter must lock when you rotate your ignition lock cylinder to OFF-LOCK and remove your ignition key. This original locking system required a cable (or linkage system) to connect the transmission shift lever to a lever on the lower end of the steering column. This system on the Corvette from 1969 through 1976 locked both the steering wheel and the shifter lever!
Starting in 1977 GM incorporated the "finger inhibitor" lever next to the lock cylinder. With this new system you need to press on the inhibitor lever in order to rotate your ignition key from OFF to OFF-LOCK. At that point only your steering wheel is locked and you can remove your ignition key. There is no linkage to the transmission to lock the shifter.
Jim
Starting in 1977 GM incorporated the "finger inhibitor" lever next to the lock cylinder. With this new system you need to press on the inhibitor lever in order to rotate your ignition key from OFF to OFF-LOCK. At that point only your steering wheel is locked and you can remove your ignition key. There is no linkage to the transmission to lock the shifter.
Jim
Racer
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 457
Likes: 1
From: Royal Oak Michigan
Your thinking of todays brake pedel lock system- where you have to put your foot on the brake pedal before you can shift gears. These do not have that- so if you have kids or a friend getting in and out of the vehicle make sure they do not put their hand near the shifter- especially when the car is idleing.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 264
Likes: 1
From: west central INDIANA
Thanks darren, I was thinking more towards the thought of leaving the car unlocked on a hill. If someone would simply take it out of park, gravity would have its way with my car. That is not a good visual picture.
