'89 240 - start inhibitor switch and gear selector gate problem

Hey Folks,

I've searched archives and various web pages and still haven't sound what I
need, so... I have an '89 240 automatic. The start inhibitor switch is
pooching out, I have been able to extend its life thus far by adding a
couple of washers to one of the mounting screws to increase the contact, but
it is time for a replacement. Also, the grey plastic C-shaped thing under
the gear selector (IPD says this part is the gear selector gate, which they
don't carry) has broken completely and also needs to be replaced. What
happens now is that when the car is in park, the shifter is further forward,
almost touching the ashtray, and the car won't start unless you pull the
shifter back slightly.

My question(s) though:

Can both of these be replaced without disassembling the whole shifter box
from the transmission? I am having the transmission seal replaced tomorrow
and I would like to save whatever money I can by doing the other repairs
myself. The inhibitor switch seems easy enough to replace but the selector
gate looks more involved.

Anyone out there have any experience with these?

Thanks in advance folks.

 

Remove the driver's side right kick panel. Undo the black plug and blue
plug that receive the wires from the transmission. Undo the two Phillips
head screws in front of the shift cover, lift the front slightly, slide
back and raise up. Connect a piece of coat hanger to the wires you
disconnected and pull them under the carpet back to the shifter. Pushthe
carpet out of the way and remove the four six mm screws holding the
shifter box in place. Go under the car and unclip the shift rod from the
shift lever extension. Unplug the white wire for the overdrive solenoid.
Go back upstairs and wrestle the whole mess out of the car. Set the box
upside down in a vise. Remove the shifter extension piece. 13mm wrench.
Remove the three six mm screws on the bottom of the box. Remove the
shift lever. Jeez I forget the rest exactly. Anyway you have to pry out
the shift release button and remove the spring underneath. Remove the
O/D lockout switch and unplug the wires. Fish them out of the knob. Pull
off the knob. Punch out the roll pin on the bottom pivot. Push out the
pivot pin, move the shifter handle up, use a big mama phillips to remove
the two screws holding the selector gate. Reassemble in reverse order
pulling the wires back under the carpet with the coat hanger. Use
loctite on the selector gate screws.

The whole bucket will come up through the tunnel, be patient but firm in
your resolve.

Good luck,

Bob

 

Wow! Thanks for the details Bob!

g

 

Hey Bob,

What is your opinion on the risk level of leaving it as is (without the
selector gate) for a month or so? I just got the car back from having the
tranny seals redone and they fixed the slipping of the shifter position I
mentioned in my initial post so that it nows starts as it should, shifter in
normal position, etc.

I just want to wait a bit and do more research before diving in.

Thanks again for your help.

Chris

 

Years ago, I had an old '79 toyota with a bad shifter switch.... some days
it would work, some it wouldn't. I finally just bypassed it completely with
a wire jumper. Found out that if I had the tranny in DRIVE and bumped the
starter switch, I could move the car forward a little. Figuring that might
come in handy someday, I just left it like that, never had any problems....
Once I had a truck that ran out of gas in the middle of an interesection. I
was able to use the starter to get it to the other side safely, since the
truck had a manual tranny....