I had a clutch installed at Cottman (or however you spell it) once and when I picked up my car it was like that,and didnt have any reverse lock out,where you have to push down on the shifter to go into reverse. Im pretty sure thats a safety feature and was none too happy after paying so much.
Bet if you look youll see that the metal c clip that keeps that rubber spring pushed down on the shifter is missing. They said it was a spring that went bad but since those long past days I learned a little more,because my shifter would occasionally,well ok a little more than occasionaly
, just come out of the transmission. I got so good at putting it back in I would just leave it in the gear it was in,pull over as soon as I could where there was light and put it back in and be going again in a minute. After I had to have the transmission replaced I was pleasantly surprised that it never came loose again.
But check that the c clip is on there holding it pressed down,it seems counterinstinc
tive that keeping it pressed down would keep the shifter pressed up,but it does. If its not the c clip off its probably the rubber corrugated spring maybe split or just worn. Mine was the c clip was missing when I got it back and they just made that excuse of it being a spring that went bad.