Cant shift from Reverse to Park,

[spon]

Driving a 2000 Buick Lesabre Custom

When I went to start the car, my car wouldn't start. I noticed that the dash lights showed I was still in Reverse, even though the shift handle was all the way to the top. It easily slipped down into reverse but I couldn't get it into park. Eventually after a few times it did get into park and I was able to start the car and go. When I arrived at work, I shifted in to park. but this time I watched it. it lit up to "R" but never into Park. eventually after trying multiple times, I got into park.

if you look at the picture, you'll notice a gap between the two pieces of plastic. When I shift gears, this gap opens wider.


Has this happened to other people before? I'm not really sure what I'm looking for or what I'm supposed to fix. Any information or insight will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Spriteman]

It may be that the Range Selector Lever Cable needs adjustment.


This procedure might help:


Range Selector Lever Cable Adjustment

Caution!
Adjust the shift control cable only while the transaxle and the gear selector are in NEUTRAL. Failure to do so may cause mis-adjustment.

Set the parking brake and chock the wheels.
Remove the range selector cable terminal from the transmission manual shaft lever pin.
Pry on the range selector cable terminal at the manual shaft lever pin with an appropriate tool. Prying or pulling up on any other part of the range selector cable may result in damage to the range selector cable .

Object Number: 97542 Size: SH



Fully lift the adjuster lock button. Ensure that the adjuster is free to move.
Place the transmission manual shaft lever in (N) Neutral. In order to find (N) Neutral, rotate the lever fully counterclockwise to (P) Park, and then clockwise 2 clicks into (N) Neutral.
Place the gear shifter inside the car to the (N) Neutral position.
If adjusting a column shift vehicle, rotate the shift lever to the LOW 1 position, fully down. Push forward and upward slowly past the first click, which is overdrive, until it stops solidly at the second click. It is in (N) Neutral.
Underhood, grasp the range selector cable terminal and pull it toward the pin on the manual shaft lever. The range selector cable adjuster spring should compress as the terminal is moved toward the pin.
Attach the pin to the lever by pushing down carefully until it snaps.
Do not pull the terminal beyond the pin and then push back. This action could move the shifter out of (N) Neutral.


Object Number: 97544 Size: SH
Click to Enlarge
Press the adjuster lock button down flush with the adjuster body.
Shift to (P) Park and release the parking brake while applying the service brake.
Start the engine and assure all of the indicated gear positions match the vehicle response.

The bad part is the diagrams don't show up here when I copy them. If you'll send me a PM with your email I'll forward a good copy.

 

[spon]

Thanks for the info. Another thing happened that might help. I adjusted the height of the steering column. and now i'm able to shift into park and reverse. so if I leave it like that it works. but if I go to the spot where it was, it has the recurring problem. does that make sense? does that help or disprove your suggestion?

 

[Spriteman]

It makes the cable adjustment more likely.

Are you saying that you adjusted the tilt? Or the actual steering column?

If you moved the actual column you're definitely going to need to adjust the cable.

 

[spon]

Yes, I mean the Tilt. sorry for not using the correct term.

Do you still believe it is the Range Selector Lever Cable. is this a fix (to existing parts) or a replacement?

 

[spon]

Spriteman,
I tried to PM you, but I got an error:

The following errors occurred with your submission
Spriteman has exceeded their stored private messages quota and cannot accept further messages until they clear some space.

let me know when you get some space cleared.