Why won't my '91 auto go into Park?
 

Today when I tried to put my car in Park it was like it just wouldn't engage and was still in Reverse! :eek: After driving it a couple of miles I noticed that when I shift it and don't just leave it in D the control is extremly sloppy. It is very undefinate how far I have to move the lever for it to shift into a gear. It is also not wanting to engage into 1 when I am at a stoplight. Is this just the linkage or a cable or what? :confused:

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

Something similiar, like you've described, happened to me recently. I found that one of the two tranny pan bolts, that also hold a small linkage bracket, was missing. I couldn't find PARK at all because the little bracket was flexing.
I replaced the bolt and have had no problems since. BTW, check all the other bolts while you're under the car. Half of my tranny pan bolts were loose!!
Good luck!
:seeya

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (fixvet)
 

I really hope it is just a bolt loose or missing...that would be great. Anyway, tomorrow I am going jack it up to try to see what the problem is.

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

I had a similar problem, but instead of loose bolts, my shift cable end separated from the cable at the mount location on the transmission. The plastic cable housing pulled out of the end in the mount, Thus making the housing longer, and unable to move to Park.

I fixed the cable, no more problems.

I actually found mine after the shop rebuilt the tranny. I was there to fire it up the first time, I verified the car was in neutral on the shifter. I was outside the car, door closed. Reached in through the window, and hit the starter. The engine cranked and started immediately. The car started going forward immediately, heading for the wall. A couple of guys from the shop helped grab the car, as I was trying to slam the shifter (through the window) into park. The car started going backwards, towards another car in the shop and another wall.

Do you know how hard it is to reach the key when the car is moving, while you are beside it reaching in through the window!

Moral - if you crank the car, be sitting in the seat.

Tom Melton
82 CE
86 Z51 Coupe

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (tommelton)
 

I couldn't get into O/D,D,2 or 1, only R and P.

Changed the cable, all is well.

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

When I pulled my Vette out of storage (10 years or so), I had the same problem. All it required was a tranny cable adjustment. After that, it goes into Park and down to 1st just fine. You can find this procedure in any Vette manual. If you need help, I will try to find the specifics.

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Ricks1989Roadster)
 

Rick- if you could give me any direction with this procedure i would really appreciate it. So none of you guys think it is a serious problem?! I really hope its not!

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

I had the same problem except it would ratchet the park pawl when parking the car on a hill. It's an easy adjustment. The procedure from the 1990 service manual: 1. Disconnect battery (your call) 2.Raise car up and place shifter in neutral. 3. Get under and loosen the nut that the cable attaches to on the side of the transmission(not trans. pan bolts!!). 4. Rotate the shift lever(on transmission) clockwise (towards the front of the car) 5. Shift transmission back two clicks to neutral (may be hard to find on the first try). 6 Rotate through the detents and see how it feels.
You should check that the trans. pan bolts are tight before adjusting it since the cable mounts to them as was pointed out earlier.

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

Hi, 8LivesLeft just gave you the correct procedure. If you need more insight, let me know.

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Ricks1989Roadster)
 

Thanks to all those that replied. I put the car up on the ramps today and saw that the linkage bracket that was mentioned in the first reply was loose because the bolts were about to fall out. After simply tightening the bolts the shifter is as good as new! I am really glad it wasn't anything serious! :D

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

:cool: :cool: :cheers:
Matt

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

You just HAVE to love this forum! I'm having the same problem with my car and now I know exactly what to look for. :chevy

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (Vette9d1)
 

:cheers: :cool:
Weird, isn't it.......if we didn't have problems with our Vettes, we wouldn't have the chance to "chat" or make new netpals, right??????

I always try the simplest solutions first, 'cause you never know if it's just a loose bolt or screw somewhere causing problems. Right after I bought my '88 last year, I spent a whole day just checking for loose parts.
Have a good one.............!!!!!! :seeya

Re: Why won't my '91 auto go into Park? (fixvet)
 

84fromhell- I know I love this place. Best site on the internet hands down. I really hope that your fix is as easy as mine was. If it is the same deal it will take you longer to get out a jack and jack it up than to fix it! :yesnod: