Automatic shift lever reinstall

[cpackingham]

Hey guys, I'm having some trouble getting my shift lever back in for an automatic transmission. I took it out as part of an effort to get the instrument cluster out and replace some bulbs and didn't think twice about knocking the pin out and removing the lever when it got in my way. Now that I'm putting everything back together, I can't seem to get it back in there. There's a pin with a spring which holds the shift lever in place, but it doesn't seem like it's pushing back into its cylinder enough to let me get this lever back in. I've been trying it with my foot on the brake and the car running just in case it was locked or something, but it just won't go back far enough even when I'm fiddling with it with a screwdriver. What am I doing wrong with this thing?

 

[franklin2]

The keyswitch is tied into this, so you can't turn the key off with the lever in any position but park. Maybe this feature it part of the problem. There is a piece that slides back and forth up in the column for this to work correct? Does it need help to get it back in position?

 

[cpackingham]

That piece in the column is working correctly, I have to have the key in the ignition to move the gear selector - it’s this metal pin with a spring behind it which is preventing me from getting the actual selector lever back in

 

[cpackingham]

I managed to get the pin itself out by putting the selector into overdrive and it has this little knob on the back. I’m thinking it’s keyed in the cylinder and needs to be aligned correctly, stay tuned

 

[cpackingham]

I got it after a while, here's a video of me doing it for anyone else who runs into this: