88 Volvo 740 gear selecter not starting

[VolvoFan]

My Volvo(automatic) will only start when I depress the shifting button hard
and wiggle the shift stick in the park position. I've taken out the center
console, and it is not that the park or neutral are not lined up properly.
Also, the button needs to be held in while doing this. Am I facing having
to get a new gear box or is there something else it might be that I've
overlooked?

 

[Ken Phillips \(UK\)]

My Volvo(automatic) will only start when I depress the shifting button hard
and wiggle the shift stick in the park position. I've taken out the center
console, and it is not that the park or neutral are not lined up properly.
Also, the button needs to be held in while doing this. Am I facing having
to get a new gear box or is there something else it might be that I've
overlooked

Unless I'm mistaken the neutral start is attached to the side of the
selector quadrant, it's also responsible for causing the ignition timing to
advance slightly when you select a gear, the same collection of copper
'wiping' contacts is also responsible for switching on the reversing lights.
This gear selector quadrant can actually move independantly of the switch,
and, unless its worn, it's likely that this positioning has moved a tiny
bit, which is all it takes to mess it up.

Hope this helps,
TTFN, Ken