1997 Mercury Marquis play in shift knob

MARVINJ276

MEMBER
1997 MERCURY MARQUIS
V8
2WD
AUTOMATIC
41,000 MILES

It's gradually loosened up the past 2 weeks. Yesterday a brass bolt was found laying in the front floorboard. Now it will not go into park, it stays in reverse no matter how hard one pushes it into reverse. Worse it's getting harder to start, it wants to go from reverse to drive with just a very little gap between for neutral when it will start. I'd thought shift linkage at the trans but since the bolt fell out in the floorboard I'm thinking it's in the steering column. I have all coverings removed but don't see any missing bolts nor anyway to thghten this up. Help please

3 Replies

DOCFIXIT

MECHANIC
18,828 POSTS

Hi
The brass bolt does it have threads? Is top hex head or round? Look on top of shift lever where it attaches to rod is pin in place?
Let me know
Thanks for donate

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Friday, June 18th, 2010 AT 12:20 PM

MARVINJ276

MEMBER
5 POSTS

I actually just dropped the steering colomn down and found where 2 plates came together and one of the bolts was missing. I call them start head bolts so not sure if that is hex head to experts. Anyway I got it fixed, it took a while to get the shift indicator on the dash re adjusted but it went well. Thanks but by the time you'd answered I'd repaired it. Maybe you can owe me a free question one day. Thanks.

No this seemed to be several inches from the shift lever, much nearer the firewall. It is fine now thanks