looks like the "stuck in park" problem that is frequent on these cars has now befallen my 940. I read the FAQ, but have a follow-up about diagnosing. The problem didn't happen suddenly, but rather got progressively worse over a few uses of the car yesterday: first it felt like it was just difficult to get it out of park upon starting the car, then the next time I had to fiddle with it for about a minute, and now it is completely stuck.

does that still sound like an issue with the microswitch/solenoid, or could it be some other mechanical issue with the linkage. The FAQ made it sound like the linkage problem only happens with pre 91 cars. Also, one comment made it sound like the shift lock override can get it out of park, but that does absolutely nothing for me.

when I did finally get it into gear, I noticed that with the car running and my hand holding the botton on the gear selector, I could go in and out of park without any problem...just not when I let go and turn off the car.

thanks for any suggestions.

The same thing happened to our 855R - I troubleshot the switches to no result - I then took the console apart to check the mechanical parts - the nylon push rod did not go down far enough to unlock the linkage.

Since I had read that the shifter is pressed on and I could find no damaged parts, I gave the top of the shift lever a couple of good smacks with the palm of my hand.

The shift lever worked fine for years after that!

thanks for your responses. I verified that it wasn't the electrical switch by taking apart the console. It clearly is a mechanical issue with the plastic mechanism that engages when you pull the button on the shifter.

I can reach my finger into the recess that the lever comes out of, find the linkage against the drivers side, and push down to manually engage it. That gets the car out of park. I'll try the magic "whack on top of the lever" method to see if that helps.

Dear ekphrasis,

Hope you're well. Before "whacking" the knob at the top of the shift lever, consider the following.

The spring-loaded button - on the front of the shift lever's knob (Part #6843471) - rests on the top of a plastic rod, that fits inside the square steel shift lever. That plastic rod is not linked (attached) either to the button or to the shift mechanism.

When the shift lever's button is pushed, it rotates and so depresses the plastic rod. The plastic rod is not shown as a separate part on the parts diagrams in Volvo VADIS (the superseded dealer parts/service database). I do not know if that is an oversight, or if the plastic rod is not available as a replacement part and comes with the shift lever knob (Part #6843471, about $80 a Volvo dealer). You might want to call a Volvo parts department, and find out if this plastic rod can be supplied as a "spare part".

It is possible that the plastic rod has worn and/or slipped out of position. This rod is about 7-1/4" long (184mm). The rod is about 1/4" (6.5mm) in diameter.

At the rod's bottom, there's a short, square section, with two holes in it. Below that is a "splined" section, about 3/8" (10 mm) in length.

Whacking the top of the shift lever could fracture the rubber knob and so require replacement. Before doing that, see the FAQs for the procedure to remove the shift lever knob.

Inspect the plastic rod and post your findings.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Hi Spook,
Thanks for the detailed description of the shift lever anatomy. I would rather try taking it apart than hitting it. I didn't look at the FAQ carefully enough because I hadn't realized that disassembly was covered.


I'm going to check now to see if there is any description of removal of the plastic plate that the lever passes through--the one with the gear selection (P N R ...) indicated on it. Without removing that piece, I can't see the linkage piece that I have to press manually in order to get the car out of park. I couldn't see an easy way to remove it, however.

Dear ekphrasis,

Hope you're well. Here's how to remove the plastic "plate", on which are found the letters and digits, that indicate shift lever positions.

To remove the plate, You'll need a flat-blade screwdriver, with a 1/8" wide tip, and a thin, somewhat flexible shank.

The plate is secured by two lugs, which engage rectangular openings in the shift lever housing, under the flexible rubber "skirt", that surrounds the plate. The lugs are accessible through openings, that are about 5/8"-3/4" on either side of the rectangular plastic "button", that releases the shift lever.

The right-hand lug is easily pushed-in (i.e., towards the front center console, that houses the ashtray). The left-hand lug requires more effort. It, too, must be pushed forward, i.e., towards the front center console.

Disengage the right-hand lug (that closest to the passenger seat). Then disengage the left-hand lug (that closest to the driver's seat). Slightly raise the plate and push it forward. That should disengage the plate from the front lugs, that secure it.

To re-install the plate, engage the front lug first. Position the plate, so that the rear-facing lugs align with the openings in the shift lever housing. Press down firmly: the plate will "snap" into position.

I have a spare shift control assembly, inspection of which enabled me to find the logs that secure the plate, and to work out how to free (and replace) the plate.

As to the shift lever's rod, I found another diagram in VADIS, that shows the plastic "push rod", that is moved when the the shift lever's button is depressed. However, no part number was provided for the push rod, from which I infer that it may not be available as a "spare part".

Should you need to replace the push rod, go to a salvage yard, find a 940 or 960, remove the shift knob (remove the over-drive switch, see FAQs), pull up firmly on the shift knob (it will release suddenly), and then remove the push rod.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Hello Spook,

I have the exact same locked in Park problem.

I have read the threads and I am not able to identify the lugs you mentioned in your reply.

Does Volvo drawing PV43069912 show these lugs? Or, do you have a picture?

Do the lugs have anything to do with positioning the plastic part that the cable attaches to?

I have found that the plastic part that the cable attaches to must be back toward the rear of the car in order for the gear shift to move out of park. If that part is more than a 1/16 of an inch forward of the end of the arched plastic piece that snaps over the area that the gear shifter travels through, then the gear shift is locked in Park. I adjusted the cable length to get more cable (about 1/8 ") toward the rear of the car. Results plastic part where cable attaches started stopping even closer to front of car; shifter still locked up; and key and steering wheel no longer lock in position. Bottomline, bad idea or poor execution.

Do you know what part moves the plastic part that the cable attaches to into position when the car is placed in Park?

The micro switch fires a coil in the bottom of the shifter unit. How does the coil's plunger affect the position of the other plastic parts in the shift control?

Do you have a parts list for all the plastic parts that are inside the gear shifter?

Please help me, also.

Thanks, Don67

Dear Don67,

Hope you're well. The "lugs" are plastic. They extend towards the shifter housing from the cover, on which are the letters and numerals denoting the transmission position.

These lugs are about 3/16 (4.5mm) wide. That's why a small flat-blade screwdriver is required to press them towards the front of the car, so that the cover releases.

The lugs are too small to be shown on a parts diagram. I do not have a photo.

If you lift the flexible rubber "skirt" at the edge of cover - and use a light - I'm sure you'll see them.

Hope this helps.

Yours faithfully,

Spook

Push down on the shift knob as they can slide up and cause your problem.


Jimo