I left my Auto 87 Sport Coupe at a shop to get a new starter. When I picked it up, they said they couldn't shift OUT of park to get the car into the garage. They said they had to remove a piece of plastic from inside the shifting mechanism. My car never had any shifting problems before, but now it doesn't want to go INTO park. Does anyone know what happened, and what the prognosis might be for my car's future performance?

Further clarification: The shop lot did not have a visually perceptible slope where I parked it. My car DOES still go into park...it just takes a bit of coaxing. Thanks for the helpful suggestions, gentlemen.

[This message has been edited by Red87Gal (edited 09-08-2003).]

Don't know why, but they must have taken the shift cable off and got it out of adjustment. Then messed with the park/lock cable to the ignition switch, which prevents the car from being started in anything other than park or neutral.
The shift cable is adjustable, take off the center console where the shifter is, disconnect the cable from tranny, manually rotate to park and see if cable is correct length, if not pull up on adjusting tab to correct length.
The park/lock cable is also adjustable. You really need a service manual or Haynes to guide you through....Paul

The only thing I can think of is a plastic rod that is located in the shifter's shaft (the part the handle is on) or the slider.
The only thing is that if removed the shifter won't work at all. If they removed it and trimed a piece off (a small one) it is very possible that it won't go into park. The reason for that would be that to get in the park position, the detent on the shifter must be fully depressed to get the park position. See these pics. The first is where the plastic part is located.
The second is what it looks like removed (lifts right out).
Another possibility is the slider may have broken into two pieces. (see the last two shots) It must be one of these two that they are talking about, ask them which one.
Was the car parked on a slope at their shop?

Another thought, is your 'T' handle firmly seated and not raised up a bit? If it is the keeper must not be seated properly or the keeper is missing and is at that shop.

The last shot shows the park detent.

[This message has been edited by Indiana_resto_guy (edited 09-08-2003).]