88 Auto can't depress shift button
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3rd Gear
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 3
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88 Auto can't depress shift button
I know it's a relatively common problem and I've researched it but I'm still stumped. Thought it would be the shift solinoid as most people indicated but removing my console I found there isn't one nor is there the brackets or connector for it. I can't see what is preventing the rod from depressing and shifting. I tried pressing the brakes, wiggling the steering wheel, jamming the shifter forward and still it won't budge. It's sitting on flat ground in the garage and hasn't had this problem before. Any advice/input would be appreciated. TIA
Dave
Dave
Melting Slicks
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2,895
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From: New Port Richey FL
There's two cables hooked to a shifter if I remember correctly, 1 goes through floor to transmission the other goes into dash and connects to base of steering column to a ball and socket connection, if the ball snaps off or the cable comes off the shifter doesn't know the key is in the cylinder and shifter stays locked
Melting Slicks
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There's two cables hooked to a shifter if I remember correctly, 1 goes through floor to transmission the other goes into dash and connects to base of steering column to a ball and socket connection, if the ball snaps off or the cable comes off the shifter doesn't know the key is in the cylinder and shifter stays locked
The column in my '90 automatic, for whatever reason, was replaced with a column from a manual trans car by someone before I bought it and I didn't realize it until I had it torn apart to replace a multi-function switch.
It was then when I noticed that cable/rod going up the column, but it wasn't connected to anything. Yet the steering wheel still locked.
