I just obtained a 1993 bonnevilel ssei from a friend knowing it needed some work. Im pretty well experienced when it comes to basic car repair but this problem I have never ran accross before.

You cannot start the car when its in park, you need to either have it in drive neutral or reverse. Reverse is sometimes reverse or neutral, neutral is sometimes neutral or overdrive. etc. My uncle told me its most likely the shift linkage, but never bothered to elaborate beyond that. I was wondering if someone would know what this problem could be and assist me with some sort of procedure to fix this.

By the way, Im new here =)

Sounds like mutip;e problems but some could be brake shift interlock trouble

My buddy mentioned when he had it towed (because his tie rod end popped out) that the tow people did something to the linkage... thats why I threw it up in the air.

It'* the park/neutral safety switch. I assume you don't have a maintenance manual?

willwren, I assumed the playing with shifter to get it started was the neutral safety switch. today I played around a bit more with it and this is what I noticed

when its in park it will still roll, and sometimes you need to play with the shifter to get it in overdrive and reverse. like you need to put it into overdrive then push the shifter up and down and put it back in and it works. I noticed it was overfull with transmission fluid so Im gonna do a service today to see if that clears up the problem.

I appreiate the responses, thanks alot guys.

I doubt it; your problem seems to be that your shifter has gotten itself mechanically out of synch with the transmission selector itself, down there at the engine, possibly due to some towing goofball snagging a grappling hook on extremely the wrong area...

Well, I did a transmission flush and a oil change today, then later I noticed the bolt holding on the linkage was loose, unscreewed it with my hands. anyways I took that off and the neutral safety switch off and when I got back home with the new neutral safety switch it was dark out. Im going to finish up tomorrow, Ill keep you guys posted.

I hate to sound dense here, but why didn't you just tighten the thing? It sure sounds to me like you've just found the problem...

because a neutral safety switch cost me $11 usd, so I might as well dont it anyways... preventive maintence =)

I thought I would follow up and say that the neutral safety switch was bad and after I tightened the bolt it still wasnt working so me and my uncle ran a new shift line and now it works perfectly.