The automatic shifter lever in the 90' Formula is very loose when trying to put into gear. When I move it around, it feels like I am shifting jello. I can move the lever from Drive to neutral without pushing in the button. The same goes for reverse to neutral and when it is in gear, it can be moved around a good bit. Is this just the cable leading to the shifter or something else? Thanks.

 

It's normal to be able to shift from D to N without pressing the button...you should be able to push it from 1 all the way to N with the button up. As far as the play in the handle....I'd say you have a bushing worn out in the shifter assembly. If a shift cable stretches/breaks it doesn't cause play in the handle, it makes you unable to get the tranny into certain gears.

 

What is that bushing called and can it be accessed through the console? Thanks.

 

Check the shifter cable. Mine was being really loose like that, then one day it was in park while the car was running with me out of it opening my gate. It fell into reverse and went parading down my street and into a fence . Turned out the shifter cable got onto something hot and burnt nearly in half.

 

If you pull up the console plate you can get access to the entire shifter mechanism. Poke around and wiggle things and see if you can find the loose part.

 

You might also want to try the auto shifter cable linkage on the transmission. It mounts alongside the tranny pan under the car and is held inplace by two of the trany pan bolts.
On my old '84 HO the bolts holding the linkage came loose and allowed the linkage to slide back and forth allowing the gear selector to 'slosh around' on the console.
This is a very easy fix if it is your problem (just tighten the bolts holding the linkage to the tranny).

 

Sounds good, i will have to try those things. Thanks guys.