1997 Volvo 960 sedan: The car will not start in park unless you aggressively move the shifter back and forth through all the gears several times, but will start in neutral every time. There is also a clanging noise under the car when shifting from P-R-N-D-2-1 (engine not running). There is a lot of "slop" where the bolt (smooth shank side) goes into the plastic arm that connects to the shifter. I removed the bolt (threaded one side smooth shank other side), nut, washer and E-clip that connects the shifter to the automatic transmission linkage rod. Is there suppose to be a bushing in the plastic arm from the shifter assembly? Thanks!!!

 

There is a plastic bushing that's on one end of the linkage. I would bet that yours has cracked and fallen out, it is about $3.00 at the dealership.
Leave the bushing in hot water while you loosen the linkage, the heat will help bend it into position.

DanR '94 964 351,000 miles (117,000 on the new engine)