Art Benstein wrote:

Your description of how the button on the top of the shifter has no effect told me the PO tried to remove the shift lock mechanism and wound up breaking the basic shifter function. Clairvoyance, I guess. Rage against the engineers.

I can't tell you much more than the 93 is a new animal in there, not much like the 91/92 at all.

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You're right as rain, Art. I finally pulled off the gear selector cover in my newest jewel and found out that the PO must have tried to circumvent the shift lock using the gorilla method. Thanks for the parts cut sheet showing the shifter assembly; it's a bit arresting to say the least.

I found the shift lock solenoid laying in the bottom of the gear selector housing with a bit of plastic hanging from it. There were a few other random bits of black plastic in there, but not enough to piece together the shifter quadrant to at least get an idea what it originally looked like.

I am trying to find a '93 shifter complete. That would be ideal since right now I cannot have this car sitting. If anyone has one, PLEASE let me know.

Since the cost of Volvo replacement parts would probably scare me, Plan B is to try to find a shifter assembly from another year and dump the troublesome shift lock mechanism entirely. Again, anyone with such an animal, please contact me.

Plan C is to fabricate a gear selector quadrant out of steel or phenolic. That would be the last resort as I would have to come up with a workable part without a pattern to go by.

I'm between a rock and a hard spot because I can't send my Sweetheart down the road in that car without thinking about when she's going to report that she shifted into reverse going forward at 50 MPH. Or, for that matter, when I am going to have to tell her that I made a boo-boo myself.

Thanks, one and all,
Rich