Depending on make model and type of play. Very often, there are bushings in the linkages shifter to transmission. You will probably need the car in the air, or jacked high enough to get under it. Dealer part, or may be found at some hardware stores.
shifter
If you plan on using the original shifter then you will need the one specifically for your car. If you plan on installing a universal shifter, then it will come with a new cable.
new shifter or you can work hard in fixing the shifter... it happend to me in a 1980 Malibu and that was the kind by the steering wheel, also in my friends 69 camaro the auto floor shifter
More than likely the shifter is bad. On the right front of the shifter is a small plastic cover. About the size of a pea. Pull this cover up and inset a small flathead screwdriver in. Push it down and then you should ne able to get it out of park. You will need to do this every time until you get the shifter fixed.
El Tigre
The nylon bushing at the bottom of the shifter is worn out. remove console. put shifter in the neutral position, unbolt shifter from transmission. replace bushing, then reinstall. good luck...
Tighten bolt on shifter
same thing happened to me ---all it was -was worn shifter cables underneath the shifter console---tighten em up or buy two new ones---
A 2003 Ford F-250 column gear shifter can be fixed by simply tightening it again. You can tighten it by turning the adjustment wheel on the lower right side of the steering column.
Put transmission in third gear, loosen locknut on cam adjuster, turn adjuster screw whichever direction is needed to center shifter pawl by feeling for equal free play and spring pressure when moving shift lever in both directions. Tighten locknut. If you still have shifting problems, check for correct clutch adjustment, proper amount of primary oil (one quart), warped clutch plates or a bent shifter fork.
remove shifter boot/ 4 screws to floor board remove nut from cross bolt install nut on opposite side of cross bolt and tighten nut cross bolt is tapered, this will remove cross bolt
I have a 2004 blazer and my manual shifter is removed by turning the hex nut just below the actual shifter clockwise. This may sound counter-intuitive as that is the direction to tighten but this spins the nut away from the shifter so the shifter is free to spin (counter-clockwise). So.... 1. Push boot around shifter down toward floorboard to expose shaft/nut coming out of tranny/gearbox 2. Turn nut clockwise to get away from shifter ( i used a small crescent ) i used a combo of 1st gear and reverse to get the right angles to fit wrench in. 3. Turn by hand the shifter (counter-clockwise) to remove. Or use pipe wrench with cloth around shifter to start the motion if stuck. Use a thick cloth to not scratch paint. 4. Nut and shifter are both free now. 5. This is also how you adjust the height of your shifter if you wish. Hope this helps
you need to tighten the bolt on the side of it
tighten your lips as you play
Good ? but I have never in 23 years had to adjust the shifter.I have removed mine when doing a new clutch and so forth over the years and do not know of a adjusment that is even possible.The only choice I would know of is buy a new shifter from mazda.Check with local dealer to see what you get if you buy it.It has several components that the shifter works in conjunction with it.
There is a metal wire that pulls the shifting needle. you just need to get to it and tighten it by adding a few knots until it tigtens up and is accurate
The shifter cable connects the shifter to the transmission.