Parking pawl problem?

[other_shoe]

Hi, all.

Today I got into the car and heard a click and it started to slowly roll backwards with a few more clicks, all the while with the lever in Park. I didn't have the parking brake engaged because I'd cracked the cheap plastic handle, but that is another problem. I put my foot on the brake to stop the roll and pulled the lever out of park and then back into it, at which point it held the car in place. I tested it out on a different slight incline and found that the car will hold in place without the parking brake, but any additional force makes it start to slip.

I'm guessing that either the pawl or the gear it engages is worn, but I also wanted to run it by you all to see if there are other things I should look out for.

Also, it's not likely related, but the neutral safety switch or something is malfunctioning because I cannot start the car from neutral and the electrical for various accessories cuts out sometimes when I shift through neutral during parking.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

 

[horseballz]

May be a slight mis-adjustment of shifter?
Gene

 

[other_shoe]

May be a slight mis-adjustment of shifter?
Gene

I'd be pretty happy if adjusting the shifter solves it. I'll check it out tomorrow.

 

[65fastbackresto]

+1 on the shifter, sounds like the linkage is just a little bit off.

 

[68keyblr]

I'd be very surprised if the pawl or ring gear were damaged. Your most likely culprit is a loose retaining nut inside the case allowing for slop in the shifter. Also check the case bushings where the shifter assembly rod exits the case