My 1984 W350 is stuck in park. Jacked up the rear wheels and moved them around, didn't help. Any help is appreciated!

 

Sorry, typo (since corrected), its a 1984 W350

 

More information would be helpful. Does the shifter move? Have you checked the linkage from the shifter to the transmission? Does the shifter lever on the transmission move?

 

Thanks SEAL for your quick reply. I'm afraid I can only answer your first question: the shifter (that's the handle on the steering wheel, right?) does not move. That is, it moves reluctantly halfway to R (then veers back) but no more.

I'll have to educate myself on the other items you mention before I can answer them.

 

PS in case it is helpful, the car has been in P for several weeks while I fixed a starting problem.

 

Sitting in park for years should have no effect on shifting let alone a few weeks. Yes, the shifter is the handle on the steering wheel. Are you pulling toward you when you try to move the shifter? There is a positive lock to prevent inadvertent shifting if you do not pull the handle toward you. Is the key on when you are trying to shift it? There is a positive lock to prevent shifting if the key is not on. If you are doing these things there is an adjuster down by the transmission in the linkage that can be loosened to isolate the transmission from the linkage and help you figure out where the problem is.

Note: Do not separate the linkage at any point that has a plastic grommet unless you have a replacement grommet.

 

Thanks SEAL. I found and loosened the adjuster. Now the shifter on the steering column moves out of park. Any suggestions on how to proceed?

 

We now know the problem is not in the column or linkage. Can you manually move the shift lever on the transmission while the adjuster is loose? If you can't something is frozen inside the transmission and unless you are capable of a transmission rebuild you are probably looking at a problem that will require a professional.

 

Thanks SEAL. I already tried to manually move the lever, didn't work. Would it be wise to carefully try with a hammer?

 

If you want to go further you can drop the pan and filter and see if you can see an obvious problem inside but I would be real careful with to much force. On the other hand what do you really have to lose at this point.

This vehicle isn't setting on a slope is it?