1996 Crown Vic PI

Hello all!! Any help on this would be greatly appreciated!!!! Thanks in advance!!
I have a 96 CVPI. I frequently have to 'jiggle' the gear shift to get it to start. The battery is good, but when I turn the key over....nothing. It doesn't do this all the time. The gear shift is very loose. I have to get it into the right position for it to start. Are there any quick fixes for this.....that a chick can do, lol? The car runs great! This is driving me insane, sometimes I have to mess with the gearshift about 15 minutes before the damn thing will start, but once it starts, it's a fine running car. It does this intermittently. It could go for days with no prob, then I'll go out and it won't start. help!?

Its the shifter in the column that's you described as loose. You could do the repair if you have the tools. Besides basic handtools, you'll need a gear puller or steering wheel puller. Its not a hard job to disconnect battery, unscrew backing of steering wheel, disconnect air bag, pull steering wheel, and then retighten the column. Its a pain but if you have the tools and patience, you can do it.

Hope you have a manual showing the steps. Haynes is as good as the shop manuals.

I was thinking that my linkage may be causing the car not to start. I do know the linkage is super loose, so the last couple days I've started slamming the gear shift up asd hard as I can, and it starts. My boyfriend said it's not goig into park properly, sound reasonable?