Check for a busted engine or tranny mount.
It is located on the Trans Case
Its the same as on all cars. The safety neutral switch is why you cannot start your car in gear.
Pull out the transmission dipstick (red handle) just as you would for checking the motor oil, but with the engine running and the transmission in neutral or park.
you PROBABLY have a defective park/neutral safety switch
Yes you could but it has a neutral safety switch for a reason.
the idle should be about 900 RPM in park or neutral.
Shift cable
There is no dipstick on a '98 Oldsmobile Cutlass, so you must take it to a mechanic and have the transmission serviced after 100,000 miles (per the owner's manual). Poor design if you ask me. There is a dipstick probably with a red cap on it that pulls out. Have the car on a level surface, engine at operating temperature. Pull stick out wipe it off and look on the stick for possible specifics. It may say "check when hot at idle in park" or " check while hot in neutral". etc. Insert back in and see where level is versus where it should be.
underneath the steering column. it will have leads running from it to the firewall as well as to the shifter
yes it does, because the combustion process is still carried out. It is true that it does not use at that rate when its accelerating.
Safety neutral switch
It is in the PRNDL switch on top of the trans. It sends a signal to the ecm.