Hey all,
I've got an issue with the automatic shifter in my 91 wagon that seems to be gradually getting worse. Whenever I attempt to shift the car into park, it doesn't always make it all the way into park. lt's almost like the car is somewhere between park and reverse. It'll catch repetitively as it drifts backwards in reverse until I force the shifter up to find Park. Sometimes I'll have to let the car drift back an inch before it finds park. And then, when it is in park, the slightest touch to the shifter can knock it back into reverse. The car has 191,000 miles. I bought it in July and havent had any serious issues to date. Anyone ever heard of an issue like this in the auto shifters?
Thanks
Sean

 

Sounds like the issue is with the shifter rather than the transmission itself. Look into the linkage and make sure all is well--there are bushing which are likely shot and cause the problem.

 

when its in "D", does the lever have quite a bit of play going forward/backwards ? thats a nearly for sure sign that you need to replace to small inexpensive bushings, one on each end of the shifter linkage rod.

shifter linkage is more or less like this on a 240... front of car is towards the left in the picture... the bushings in question are #42 and #47... to access this, you need to get the car up on a lift, that shift lever 45 is on the side of the transmission, and its generally easiest to remove nut 49, pry 45 off the transmission, and lower it so you can get "jesus clip" [1] 48 off to remove pin 46 so you can replace bushing 47. while the rod is hanging down, its easier to extract clip 44 to get to bushing 42 ... note that these bushings need to be pressed into hole on the the levers 45 and 36 respectfully, this is often easiest if you soak them in a cup of hot water to soften them up a bit, and smear a bunch of silicone grease around them before trying to insert them




[1] its a 'jesus clip' because when you go to remove it, it will sproing away causing you to exclaim "Jesus, where did that go??"

 

Pierce and Lev, thanks for your contributions! I went ahead and switched out the bushings, one of mine was essentially non-existent! Shifting seems tighter, but I'm still not making it into park consistently I'm thinking I may need to adjust the nut (40) in Pierce's diagram. Perhaps mine is too loose and that's why it's not making it to park?

 

the nut is just a lock nut, you adjust by spinning the knurled part of 41 after loosening said nut, then retighten the nut when its 'right'