Been searching the forum for this but no luck, so let me ask you folks -

Using my 93 940 wagon to move to a new apartment (half mile drive each way), and all went fine until this evening ...
I pulled into the parking lot, went to shift into Park, felt something odd, and now the car is "stuck in Drive".

The shift lever moves through the whole range with no effect. The lever locks in the Park position, and the interlock still works - I have to step on the brake and push the button to release the lever.

No matter what position the shift lever is in, the car moves forward when I let up on the brake.

I can shut the car off, remove the key, put the key back in .... and start the car.

It feels as though the shift lever is no longer connected to the transmission shift linkage. Happened suddenly.

I guess I could still drive the car, just make sure I always park where I can move forward, no backing up ....

Help......

I got lucky ... the C-clip had come off the linkage adjusting pin - the rubber grommet had broken down enough to push the clip off as the grommet squirmed around in the assembly.

Fortunately, I found the clip and the grommet laying under the car. (If there's such a thing as "car karma", I think this car likes me)

My AllData account provided diagrams of the linkage, pin and clip, so I had an idea of what to look for.

I made a temporary grommet from a piece of plastic tubing, added some washers, and put the clip back on. Made 3 trips today, and the repair seems to be holding.

Now to order a replacement grommet ...

I replaced the same grommet on my tranny a few years ago with some tubing as you describe (I think it was vacuum hose).
I have checked it periodically since with no problems noted.
Bottom line, you may not need to order the part & crawl under the car again.

Dear GACyclops.

May this find You well. The shift lever has, indeed, separated from the transmission linkage. The lever linkage to the transmission has a pin, secured by an e-clip. The e-clip likely corroded or broke, and the pin fell out. As a result, when you move the shift lever, nothing happens inside the transmission.

As Gus123 suggests, jack-up the car (be sure to support it on jackstands), and inspect the linkage, which is on the driver's side of the transmission.

The pin is Volvo Part #381705; the e-clip is #951669. There is also a rubber grommet, which may have rotted-out. It is part #381704.

If these parts are present and in good order, then look for missing nuts, that secure the other ends of the linkage. If those are present, and in good order, then the problem is internal to the transmission.

That is unlikely: the Aisin-Warner transmissions have been very durable. Failures are caused mostly by coolant getting into the transmission fluid, when there's a failure of the in-radiator trans fluid cooler. Water in the coolant then can damage the clutch pack facings. This is not likely to have happened in your case: the problem surely is linkage-related.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Hi

I think you need to get under the car and have someone else move the shifter around. Some clip or rod probably came loose. Make sure the person shifting is pressing firmly on the brakes.

Good luck

Gus