How do you realign the gear shifter and the indicator on the dash of a 1989 Ford Crown Victoria?

Answer 1

If memory serves me, 89's use a plastic collar that wraps around the steering column shaft, slides into a notch cut into the shaft, and secures with a lock screw. If the indicator is just not adjusted properly, find the small cable that runs down from the instrument cluster to the steering column (very small diameter steel wire) and you'll find the plastic collar. Loosen the lock screw and rotate the collar until your indicator lines up, then tighten it up and recheck. (You may actually need to unbolt your steering column and let it hang down for extra access room.) My '89 Grand Marquis had the same problem; it turned out that the collar broke where the lock screw fastens the collar together, letting everything flop around. I had to get it adjusted as closely as possible, then hot-melt-glue the collar to the steering column to keep it in place. It's not the most professional way to repair a problem like that (I'm a perfectionist and hate when I can't repair something properly), but it was the best I could do at the time. Hope this helps.