Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: 1992 Cutlass Cierra, cutlass cierra, shift linkage

Question
Van- This was my son's car and he complained of the problem starting about a year ago. Son says that the car will drop into neutral and behave as if it is out of gas with loss of power and then death. Problem occurs sporadically and always at the worst times. Daughter is now driving the vehicle and it died on her as well the first time she took it out. I drove the car and noticed that the red indicator on the shifter began heading down toward neutral so I just nudged it back up and had no problems. However, I have driven it several times recently without doing that and had no problem. Someone said the coil pack may be going bad. New battery and alternator is charging. This has been going on for a year or more. Suggestions? thanks.

Answer
Hi John,
It actually sounds like two separate problems.
Fuel supply is what I think of, and would connect a tester to see what is happening during the problem, if you can get it to happen.
I wonder if something on the steering column could be loose, allowing the shift linkage, as well as the ignition switch to be effected.
Van