1993 240 Gear shift

[isaacxii]

Hello everyone. I’m new to owning a 240. On the way home from buying a great condition one, it failed to go into park. When going into neutral the reverse lights come on, and when in reverse the lights are off the brake lights are not engaging in any gear. I pulled up the shifter cover and found this wire seems to be unattached and this mechanism has popped out as well. I checked underneath for the linkage cable as well and the nuts seems to be tight on a replaced linkage. I believe the shifter is not connected to the cable. However all the diagrams I have seen have not been clear on where the cable attaches to the shifter and what the spring mechanism is. Any advice on how to approach this repair?

[volvolugnut]

I am going jump in with some ideas.
I think the first problem of improper gear selection is caused by a plastic coupler under the car connecting shifter linkage. They break after many years and allow the linkage to get very sloppy.
I think the bare wire you found is part of the shifter interlock to prevent starting in gear. I do not know the details, but that is a place to start.
volvolugnut