When I rebuilt my shifter I found the interlock plate broken as seen in the photo. Is this a common occurrence and does anyone know what might have caused the interlock to break like this.

Thanks.

 

somebody couldn't get into reverse and forced it?

 

Or the other way around and couldn't get it out of reverse. How is the interlock cable going to the steering column at the firewall. Was/is it connected. Check to see if it moves freely. I wonder is someone tried to or did steal the car at some point and broke it forcing the trans out of reverse. Just wondering, was the broken piece still in the shifter?

 

I do not recall ever having a problem getting into reverse but definately had trouble getting out of reverse on a few occasions. The broken piece was not in the shifter when I disassembled it. Could the piece that remained in the shifter have interfered with the linkage causing it to hang up in reverse?

The steering interlock cable had been removed by a previous owner.

Thanks for your replies.

 

But is the interlock lever, on the engine side, in the full UP position?

 

Yes it is.

 

FYI - I suggest you secure the steering column interlock cable lever if your not running the cable with a tie-wrap or something to keep it from moving because if it happens to move while your driving your day could go to **** real fast. However unlikely it would move there is always that chance.

 

IF the shifter lock lever mounted on the steering column is not connected to a cable and it were to drop down this does not effect anything while driving due to the ignition switch in the column is still turned ON.

Your steering wheel CANNOT lock up IF the ignition switch is ON..(assuming all internal parts areas they should be)..because the locking feature of your column is controlled by your ignition switch rotating to the OFF position and allowing the lock pin for your locking steering column to raise up and engage into the lock plate. So if the ignition switch is turned ON..the lock pin is down inside the column and can not reach the lock plate. Fact...not an opinion.

IF the lever drops down the only problem is that you will have to raise it up to get the ignition key to fully rotate and allow you to get your key out. The lever on the outside of the column is rotating a plate on the inside of your column that is attached to a major component which is another tube that when this plate slides to the correct position it allows the ignition switch to fully rotate in the OFF position. That is all this does for safety. On manual transmission cars it is the 'REVERSE LOCK OUT' ..and on automatic cars it is to make sure you put it in PARK.

Oddly enough...GM did away with this lock out cable a few years later in the C3 era.

DUB

 

I still wouldn't what to take any chances. Stuff wears out. Bubba strikes all over the place. But that's just me as I work in a very hazardous industry and EVERYTHING I do I start with thinking of my safety and of those around me.
It only take one time for all the holes in the cheese line up and disaster happens.

 

The transmission is currently out of the car and will soon be rebuilt. When it is installed into the car the cable will be installed with it.

It seems that the best way to prevent a recurrence of the interlock plate breaking is a careful adjustment of the shifter linkage.

 

I get how you are thinking the way you do and I would agree.... but.... I really know how the columns work and the lever for the interlock cable lever can not effect anything but you getting your key out. There is no way for it to effect the lock plate pin and cause your steering wheel to lock up due to they are not directly related by the farthest stretch of the imagination.

Think of it like your back door on your house wont open and that is why your window upstairs at the front of the house will not close. Both are a part of your house but not directly related in how each functions.

But think as you wish....becasue I would not pull your leg on this.

DUB