1993 Volvo 240 Wagon Stuck in Park

[NoAngel416]

I hope I'm not posting this a hundred times...having some trouble here, it keeps making me log in again and losing my post.

Our daughters called last night at midnight to tell us that their 1993 240 wagon was stuck in PARK and happened to be blocking both a driveway and a fire hydrant...so off we went.

The top button was jammed, the side button did nothing, and the gear shifter wouldn't move. My husband was able to pull the shifter back and hold it while the car shifted into a "semi-reverse"--it would move backwards but was definitely not right. After backing a block or so, he was able to shove it into drive, and get it home. Once in drive, it was fine, and the tranny felt fine...he thinks the gear shifter must be shot...maybe from them jamming it into Park when they stop! At home, he was reluctant to put it into Park because he said it didn't feel right and it would jam again, but he says he was able to get it sort of into Park enough to get the key out.

Anyway, god knows why, he asked me to see if I could find some info on the web while he's at work today. He works on cars and bikes, but hasn't worked on this one yet, and was looking for some kind of info/diagram or whatever about how to get the gear shift cover off, see the shift assembly thingy, parts, and ideas on what it could be. He's hoping that maybe just the T handle thingie needs to be replaced...

Thanks for any help you can offer!

[NoAngel416]

Also, I think if I could get some diagrams like the ones below for the 940 gear lever he would love me forever.....

[billofdurham]

Welcome to Matthew's Volvo Site.

It sounds very much like the Parking Shift Lock System has failed to disengage.

There is a manual override button for when this happens mounted in front of the shift lever.

There is a picture in the Owner's Manual on page 107 with a how-to. If you don't have a manual download one free of charge from Volvo Cars US: http://new.volvocars.com/ownersdocs/199 ... 240_1.html

If this does not solve the problem let us know. I am sure I can find some pictures like those for the 940.

Bill.

[NoAngel416]

Thanks so much!

[Matt69]

I had an issue with my 1992 Volvo 240 wagon getting stuck in park position when it was cold or first started up in the morning. I researched a bunch of sites, and encountered a variety of different advice, including just tearing out components, etc. STOP before you do any of the more involved solutions and try the simple approach. I was able to fix mine with a screw driver and a can of WD40. The issue for my parking lock, was the oil that lubricates, or just other liquids that have dripped in over the years, caused the shift release to seize up the plunger that disengages allowing the car to go into gear. There is a hidden yellow release leaver which can help to manually release the gear shifter, but the problem still persisted. To find the yellow handle on my Volvo, I removed the two screws at the top of the gear shift selector cover (Shows the P,R,N,D,1,2 indicator) with a screw driver. Then I lifted off the cover to reveal the yellow manual release at the bottom, and the parking lock mechanism. You DO NOT need to remove anything else; the gear shifter, knob, or any of the gear shift assembly can remain intact. Just above the manual gear shift yellow release leaver and a bit down inside of the shifter assembly, is a electric plunger switch that will allow the shifter to move out of park. When I used the yellow leaver, I could see it trying to move the plunger out of the way to allow the shifter to move into gear. I then used the WD40 with the stray attached, and sprayed into that part. Immediately the shifter button was freed up, and repeated spraying and a bit of wiggling the shifter freed up the button and I was able to freely shift out of park. Afterwards, I noticed the shifter release button worked better than it ever did before, and I now have no more issue shifting out of park.

[SilverFlocks]

Apologies reviving a 6 year old post, but my 1991 Volvo 240 wagon has recently started having issues getting out of park. Once out of park, shifting to R,N,D,1,2 feels as good as it did in 1991 and I am experiencing no other issues so I am hesitant to think it is bushings or linkages. I would like to try WD40 but need to understand better where I am trying to direct the spray. Can anyone help with a photo, diagram or description?

[volvolugnut]

Check under the car for the shift linkage to the transmission on the drivers side of the transmission. This linkage must not have any play at the pivot points. There is a least one plastic connector that can get worn or break.
volvolugnut

[BlackBart]

My memory on these might be pretty fuzzy, but wasn't there a shift lock override button on the side of the shifter? I remember having to replace it.