Pontiac Repair: 1999 pontiac sunfire gear cable, fast food restaurant, pontiac sunfire

Question
QUESTION: I was waiting in a drive through (there was a long line) and I thought I had put the car in park, so I grabbed the handle to put the car in drive and actually put it in 1 (overdrive, I guess) and so I moved it back to the drive position.  The indicator panel still showed it as being on 1.  It was midnight, so I drove it home that way but I could not put the car in park.  I turned it off and used the emergency brake.  This morning, I pulled apart the panel area around the gear shift lever (it sits between the front seats) and noticed that a cable just bunches up when I try to move the gear shift lever into park.  The car drove fine from the fast food restaurant to my home.  I called an auto parts store and they said I would need to contact a dealership for the part.  Will this is something which would be difficult for me to replace if I can get the part?  I changed the alternator on this car by myself a few months ago.  I would just like to know if this is a problem best left for an expert to fix.  Thank you in advance for your assistance.

ANSWER: Hi
What part exactly are you needeing to replace? The shift cable or the shifter assembly.
PLEASE follow post back.
Good Luck
Pawl

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: I believe it is the gear cable which needs to be replaced.  It is the cable which is located at the front of the shifter assembly.  I see that there are a couple of cables on the driver side of the shifter assembly and as far as I can tell, those look fine.
Thank you so much for your response and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Also, I don't know if this makes a difference or not, but the car has a 2.2 engine

Answer
Hi
If you removed the center console and can see the cable, I would say your half way to removing the cable.
It is kinda tricky on the transmission, especially where it passes through the bracket that centers it.
If you feel like you can do it, I'd tell you to look it over closley, and determine if you feel like you can handle it.
If so I would tell you to go for it, and save yourself some $$$$$$.
Better yet, I do not know if you have one in your area, but if you have a U Pull It or Self Serve Salvage yard you could save yourself even more $$$$ and get a used part, AND practice the removal and installation of part.
I do hope this helps.
PLease follow post back anytime needed.
Good Luck
Pawl