Automotive Forums

The shifter for my 1991 Mercury Capri dropped in to the tranny.  I can hold the shifter nob and pull the shifter back up to its normal position and shift all gears.  When I let go the shifter nob the shifter drops once again.  I can hear it the shifter settle hit the bottom of the tranny case.  I supppose a collar or pin got loose.  Can I ruin the tranny by not fixing this right away?  Any suggestions/ideas/questions...  Thanks in advance...  

A 91 Mercury Capri is a front wheel drive vehicle, there is no way that the shifter is dropping into the trans..  

The 91 Mercury Capri is a front wheel drive vehicle, there is no way that the shifter can drop into the trans..

Ihave no idea why this reply posted twice  

You are absolutely right.  When the shifter link assy drops it bangs against the exhaust system.  Not sure what keeps the shifter assy secured to the body.  I did see a metal spring assy around the collar of the shifter, but have not had time to work on it.  For now a rubber boot helps keep the shifter assy in place, as long as there is no downward pressure on the shifter.  It seems safe enough to drive, until I have time to work on it.  

If it is similar to my 94 Ford Escort(same style as 91-2000 Mercury Tracers), the shifter is in a housing that is attached to the body under the shift console.  If you remove the screws holding the console, you can lift the console off.  Do not worry about removing the knob.  With the knob and boot still on you can move the console enough to see how the shift base/linkage connector is attached to the body. In my car there are four nuts on studs holding the shift base in place.  

On the bottom of the body, under the shift linkage, is a heat shield.  The sound you are hearing is probably the shift housing falling onto that shield.

Just some thoughts...Hope they help. Just be sure to have the car properly secured on stands if you decide to check it out from the bottom side.