Saab: loose shifter, saab 9000, shift rod

Question
i just recently bought a 1995 saab 9000 5 speed and the shifter is really loose, it's hard to get it to stay in reverse and it's hard to find second gear and get it to stay in second gear... what could be wrong?

Answer
Sarah:
 Although my direct experience is with 1990 and earlier 900's only, SAAB'S conservative engineering makes the following a reasonable possibility since they keep the same designs for many models and years.

 I believe your problem is with the shift rod alignment bushing..it is probably deteriorated. It is found on the bottomside of the shift lever housing, in the console between the seats. Its quite a bit of labor to get at it, but the item to be renewed itself is quite simple...a hard rubber donut shaped piece, a bit larger in diameter than a silver dollar. If not that, then you need to look for something else in the shift lever mechanism's path...from the lever to the shift rod through the firewall to the transmission shift shaft.

   Hope this helps,

                   Jerry