Rolling while in park

[Rileysowner]

Ok, this just showed up. We drove up the my parent in-law's place for a visit and parked in their driveway turning off the van. When we were getting Justin out of his car seat, with all the shaking of the van that is part of that, the van started to roll down the slope. Thankfully it stopped after a foot or two. AFAIK the van is in park, although the parking brake was not set.

So what is not working, and how can it be fixed? Should I even bother trying to fix this myself or just pay someone to do it? With my back as sore as it is, I don't know how up to crawling around under the van I would be at the moment.

[zook94]

Sounds like the linkage for the shifter may be out of adjustment, or maybe the plastic bushing that keeps a metal on metal connection from happening may have degraded to the point of breaking out, and leaving a sloppy shifter. Parking on a hill would enhance the problem, as the linkage would fall away, shortening up the throw. Can you fix it yourself? Probably. Check the fittment of the linkages where the shift rod meets the steering column. Excessive wear there requires a run to the parts store for a new plastic bushing. There is only one spring pin that holds this connection together, and its straightforward from there.

P.S. I forgot to mention, the connection is reachable from the TOP side, no crawling around on your back.

[Rileysowner]

I'm going to have to have a look. Where precisely is that located? Any special tools needed?

[zook94]

The easiest place to look for slop is at the connection for the linkage where the steering column pops through the firewall, below the brake booster. There will be a small arm that comes out of the side of the column, and a linkage rod that runs down to the side of the transmission. There is also a spring and pin at the side of the transmission, that holds the shift rod into its U shaped shift cup, which can be viewed if you peek under the side of your van right about the back edge of the drivers side door.

[Mr_Roboto]

it could also be the parking pawl, the teeth on the drum or the return spring within the transmission have gotten weak.