1990 olds 98 transission shifts hard when shifting in to gear from park and neutral. How to fix ? /

Its gear shift issues.

The shifter needs to be inspected. The shifter assembly is got misaligned, it has to be open and realign.

There are many other possibilities. But if it was working right up till now and suddenly this occurred then its shifter assembly alignment issue.

Also i suggest you to refer these gear shift issues, which are mostly noticed. These are direct links with appropriate solutions to the specific problems of gear ****.

GEAR SHIFT ISSUES

Gear indicator Shows "3" Instead Of "D"?

http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/07/gear-indicator-shows-3-instead-of-d.html

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2006 Chrysler 300c: Shifter Stuck in Park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-chrysler-300c-shifter-stuck-in.html

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1998 Ford Expedition: Will not Shift Out of Park?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-ford-expedition-will-not-shift-out.html

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Car will not move when in gear?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/car-will-not-move-when-in-gear.html

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Mercedes-Benz transmission sticks in first gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-transmission-sticks-in.html

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Mercedes Benz not engaging in first gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-not-engaging-in-first.html

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Chrysler PT Cruiser only goes in First gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/chrysler-pt-cruiser-only-goes-in-first.html

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Car is stuck in park and the shift will not move?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/car-is-stuck-in-park-and-shift-will-not.html

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2007 Ford Expedition: How to shift car in neutral with Dead Battery

http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/11/2007-ford-expedition-how-to-shift-car.html

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2002 Nissan sentra will not go out of park mode?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/2002-nissan-sentra-will-not-go-out-of.html

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Nissan Sentra stuck in park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-sentra-stuck-in-park.html

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Car will not come out of Park?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-will-not-come-out-of-park.html

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Automatic transmission will not go into high gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

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Car won't downshift sometimes?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-downshift-sometimes.html

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Buick Park Avenue: Transmission will Not shift into drive?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-park-avenuetransmission-will.html

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No First gear Starts In Second Gear

http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-first-gear-starts-in-second-gear.html

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Ford Taurus won't shift from park?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-taurus-wont-shift-from-park.html

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2006 Ford F150: Will Not Shift out Of Park?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-ford-f150-will-not-shift-out-of.html

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Car Transmission will not go into Park mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-transmission-will-no-go-into-park.html

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1998 Chrysler Voyager: Transmission Problem?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-chrysler-voyager-transmission.html

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Shift indicator directly goes to 2nd when key is turned ON?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-indicator-directly-goes-to-2nd.html

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Third gear missing and engine losing power?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/third-gear-missing-and-engine-losing.html

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Chevrolet silverado has whining sound in gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/chevrolet-silverado-has-whining-sound.html

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2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71: Gear shift Issue?

http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/2002-chevrolet-avalanche-z71-gear-shift.html

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Hard to shift gears on Manual transmission?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/hard-to-shift-gears-on-manual.html

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Car hard shift at slow speeds?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-hard-shift-at-slow-speeds.html

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Transmission-Hard To Down Shift

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/transmission-hard-to-down-shift.html

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Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html

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2000 Nissan maxima shifts hard?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/2000-nissan-maxima-shifts-hard.html

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Vehicle noticed sluggish delayed shifts while driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-noticed-sluggish-delayed-shifts.html

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2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: Will not Shift out of Park Mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-hyundai-santa-fe-will-not-shift.html

These details will help.

Thanks.

could be a selector failure. easiest to check first or internall drama with torqu converter ,one way clutch or other. these will require r@r n overhaul

sounds like its time to rebuild it including a new shift valve body

It can be shift mechanism issue or its faulty worn out gears.On some cases like these its also seen that problem relates to transmission rebuilt.But that is rare,if these problem is suddenly occurred without any previous problem.To troubleshoot these issue,i suggest you to refer the solved helplinks with appropriate solutions.-----------Click the link below:-----
2007 Chrysler 300: Transmission Stuck in Park?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-chrysler-300-transmission-stuck-in.html

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1996 Toyota Corolla: Transmission Shift Interlock will not Release?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/1996-toyota-corolla-transmission-shift.html

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Lexus LS400: Transmission or Torque Converter?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/04/lexus-ls400-transmission-or-torque.html

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Gear indicator Shows "3" Instead Of "D"? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/07/gear-indicator-shows-3-instead-of-d.html --------- 2006 Chrysler 300c: Shifter Stuck in Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-chrysler-300c-shifter-stuck-in.html ---------- 1998 Ford Expedition: Will not Shift Out of Park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-ford-expedition-will-not-shift-out.html --------- Car will not move when in gear? http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/car-will-not-move-when-in-gear.html ----------- Mercedes-Benz transmission sticks in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-transmission-sticks-in.html ---------- Mercedes Benz not engaging in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-not-engaging-in-first.html ---------- Chrysler PT Cruiser only goes in First gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/chrysler-pt-cruiser-only-goes-in-first.html

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Car is stuck in park and the shift will not move?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/car-is-stuck-in-park-and-shift-will-not.html
------- 2007 Ford Expedition: How to shift car in neutral with Dead Battery http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/11/2007-ford-expedition-how-to-shift-car.html -------- 2002 Nissan sentra will not go out of park mode? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/2002-nissan-sentra-will-not-go-out-of.html -------- Nissan Sentra stuck in park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-sentra-stuck-in-park.html --------- Car will not come out of Park?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-will-not-come-out-of-park.html
----------- Automatic transmission will not go into high gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

----------
Car won't downshift sometimes?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-downshift-sometimes.html
-------- Buick Park Avenue: Transmission will Not shift into drive?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-park-avenuetransmission-will.html
------------ No First gear Starts In Second Gear http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-first-gear-starts-in-second-gear.html ------- Ford Taurus won't shift from park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-taurus-wont-shift-from-park.html --------- 2006 Ford F150: Will Not Shift out Of Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-ford-f150-will-not-shift-out-of.html -------- Car Transmission will not go into Park mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-transmission-will-no-go-into-park.html
---------- 1998 Chrysler Voyager: Transmission Problem? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-chrysler-voyager-transmission.html ------ Shift indicator directly goes to 2nd when key is turned ON?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-indicator-directly-goes-to-2nd.html
-------- Third gear missing and engine losing power?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/third-gear-missing-and-engine-losing.html
-------- Chevrolet silverado has whining sound in gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/chevrolet-silverado-has-whining-sound.html
---------- 2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71: Gear shift Issue? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/2002-chevrolet-avalanche-z71-gear-shift.html ---------- Hard to shift gears on Manual transmission?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/hard-to-shift-gears-on-manual.html
-------- Car hard shift at slow speeds?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-hard-shift-at-slow-speeds.html
--------- Transmission-Hard To Down Shift http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/transmission-hard-to-down-shift.html --------- Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html
------------ 2000 Nissan maxima shifts hard?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/2000-nissan-maxima-shifts-hard.html

-------
Vehicle noticed sluggish delayed shifts while driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-noticed-sluggish-delayed-shifts.html

-------
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: Will not Shift out of Park Mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-hyundai-santa-fe-will-not-shift.html

These details will help.

Thanks.

There are few related help links related to gear shift issues:----
Click the link below:----
Gear indicator Shows "3" Instead Of "D"? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/07/gear-indicator-shows-3-instead-of-d.html 2006 Chrysler 300c: Shifter Stuck in Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-chrysler-300c-shifter-stuck-in.html 1998 Ford Expedition: Will not Shift Out of Park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-ford-expedition-will-not-shift-out.html Car will not move when in gear?

http://repairhelpcenter.blogspot.in/2012/02/car-will-not-move-when-in-gear.html Mercedes-Benz transmission sticks in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-transmission-sticks-in.html Mercedes Benz not engaging in first gear? http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/mercedes-benz-not-engaging-in-first.html Chrysler PT Cruiser only goes in First gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/chrysler-pt-cruiser-only-goes-in-first.html

Car is stuck in park and the shift will not move?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/08/car-is-stuck-in-park-and-shift-will-not.html

2007 Ford Expedition: How to shift car in neutral with Dead Battery http://www.howtorepairguide.com/2012/11/2007-ford-expedition-how-to-shift-car.html 2002 Nissan sentra will not go out of park mode? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/2002-nissan-sentra-will-not-go-out-of.html Nissan Sentra stuck in park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/02/nissan-sentra-stuck-in-park.html Car will not come out of Park?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/car-will-not-come-out-of-park.html

Automatic transmission will not go into high gear?

http://howtobyme.blogspot.com/2011/11/automatic-transmission-will-not-go-into.html

Car won't downshift sometimes?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-wont-downshift-sometimes.html
Buick Park Avenue: Transmission will Not shift into drive?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/buick-park-avenuetransmission-will.html
No First gear Starts In Second Gear http://www.howtobyme.blogspot.com/2012/07/no-first-gear-starts-in-second-gear.html Ford Taurus won't shift from park? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/ford-taurus-wont-shift-from-park.html 2006 Ford F150: Will Not Shift out Of Park? http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/06/2006-ford-f150-will-not-shift-out-of.html Car Transmission will not go into Park mode?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/car-transmission-will-no-go-into-park.html
1998 Chrysler Voyager: Transmission Problem? http://howtobyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/1998-chrysler-voyager-transmission.html Shift indicator directly goes to 2nd when key is turned ON?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2011/12/shift-indicator-directly-goes-to-2nd.html
Third gear missing and engine losing power?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.com/2012/01/third-gear-missing-and-engine-losing.html
Chevrolet silverado has whining sound in gear?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/chevrolet-silverado-has-whining-sound.html
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche Z71: Gear shift Issue? http://whoisbyme.blogspot.in/2012/06/2002-chevrolet-avalanche-z71-gear-shift.html Hard to shift gears on Manual transmission?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/hard-to-shift-gears-on-manual.html
Car hard shift at slow speeds?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/car-hard-shift-at-slow-speeds.html
Transmission-Hard To Down Shift http://technoanswers.blogspot.in/2012/07/transmission-hard-to-down-shift.html Automatic transmission shift lever hard to move on cold mornings?

http://technoanswers.blogspot.com/2012/01/automatic-transmission-shift-lever-hard.html
2000 Nissan maxima shifts hard?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/02/2000-nissan-maxima-shifts-hard.html
Vehicle noticed sluggish delayed shifts while driving?

http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/03/vehicle-noticed-sluggish-delayed-shifts.html
2007 Hyundai Santa Fe: Will not Shift out of Park Mode? http://schematicsdiagram.blogspot.in/2012/06/2007-hyundai-santa-fe-will-not-shift.html

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These will help.
Thanks.

On my '96 Olds 98, brake transaxle shift interlock is simply a pain in the ***. Solution: always press foot brake AND parking brake hard and hold while shifting into park and shutting down engine. Try not to park "downhill." Read owners manual;"shifting out of park." This even calls for opening and shutting the door! If you can't start in park, try neutral. If all else fails, unhook red battery cable for a minute. Re-attach and restart car, which should re-set computer to recognize your key, which has a computer chip embedded in it. Worst option EVER invented!

YEP SHIFT LINKAGE LOOSE OR WORN NEED ADJUSTMENT.ADJUST THE SHIFT LINKAGE BY POSITION THE SHIFT LEVER IN NEUTRAL .REMOVE THE REAR TUNNEL COVER IN FRONT OF THE REAR SEAT.PULL THE RUBBER DUST COVER FORWARD ON THE SHIFT ROD.LOOSEN THE CLAMP BOLT ON THE SHIFT ROD.MOVE THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR SHAFT ALL THE ITS LEFT STOP,KEEPING IT IN NEUTRAL.WITH THE TRANSMISSION STILL IN NEUTRAL . MOVE THE GEARSHIFT ROD TO THE RIGHT TO ITS STOP.TIGHTEN THE CLAMP BOLT TO 18 FT LBS.TEST THE SHIFT LEVER PLAY SHOULD BE THE SAME IN ALL GEARS IN ALL DIRECTIONS.

Sounds like a problem with the brake light switch. Do the brake lights work? It is a problem with the shift interlock system. It is controlled by the brake light switch on the brake pedal bracket.

You've got to do the obvious things, look at your spark plug wires, if you see what looks like chalky residue they are arcing replace them and your plugs. Check all vacume lines for leaks, and make sure your air filter is clean

there is a shift linkage on the tranny ,look for the end of the cable on the tranny turn the linkage by hand , should be on top or right on front side.