Hey, just bought my first volvo and been driving it about a month. Last night when I was parking and about to put the automatic transmission in park but it just glided through all the gears without catching so it's stuck in drive pretty much and the shifter just moves back and forth freely when I try and move it. I assumed it was some cable or something that had came detached or broke. Further research online lead me to believe it's possibly the linkage broke or something.

Does anybody know how to check what is wrong? I'm not sure if I can look at it from inside the car by removing any panels or if I need to go under the car? I downloaded something online that supposedly is better than the Haynes manual but I can only find how to remove and install a transmission.

Im not sure which panels to remove or how since Im so new to the car and came from Saabs which required too many special tools to work on myself.

Anyone know what might be the problem or how long it might take to fix and if any tools are required? Thanks so much!

 

Sounds like the linkage might have disconnected. Go under the car and take a look. The linkage is connected to two rods with bushings and pins-simple pivot... No special tools needed...

 

thanks very much! wasnt sure exactly what to be looking for. Found some other helpful threads on here. very informative site! I'll update tomorrow hopefully with some pics and possibly a video if I am able to fix it!

 

ok so i went under the car and took a couple pictures of the problem. Im just not sure exactly how to connect this rod that apparently came disconnected. Its just hanging down resting on the bottom of the car and has the bushings still in it. Does anybody know what parts I might need to buy and if the metal rod just connects to the hole above it or am i missing another part? thanks!

 

I can't recall exactly, but there will be a nut and washer one side, and a pin and washer the otehr side for that linkage. It looks like a pin and washer have fallen out. A quick and dirty fix would be to wrap a couple cable ties around it.

Regards, Andrew.

 

awesome, i used a washer and some wire to hold it in place on the other side. worked like a charm!

Thanks!