Trouble going into park

[jrowell]

Sometimes shifting into park, the shifter won't go past Reverse. I have to wiggle a bit to get it into park. Possible causes? Caused by shifter or in trans?

 

[90XJ_Seth]

Automatic or Manual?

 

[Saudade]

Automatic or Manual?

I'd guess auto since it has a "park" position but year would help.

 

[Saudade]

Could be either. Get a helper. Jack it up. Key on but DO NOT START. Have helper shift back and forth while you look underneath to see if there's an binding or looseness. You can pop the shift bezel out too and look at the shifter end.

 

[lawsoncl]

Give the top of the shifter a good thump and make sure it's seated all the way down too.

 

[jrowell]

I'd guess auto since it has a "park" position but year would help.

87XJ 95 Auto Trans

 

[8Mud]

Give the top of the shifter a good thump and make sure it's seated all the way down too.

My first guess would be the shift handle isn't seated all the way down, the plastic ring with locking tabs can get sloppy. The plastic wedge the side button moves can have a groove worn in it and/or the plastic rod going down the middle of the shifter is worn. A little play here and a little there adds up.

Mine had a pronounced groove in the plastic wedge, I filled it with epoxy and filed it flush. Took a few coats of epoxy, trying to get it all in one pass gets messy quick. TIP anything you don't want the epoxy to stick too gets a light coat of grease.