Saab: reverse, Saab, shift console

Question
my 96 900 SE has trouble going in to revers. it feels like
the anti theft thing is malfunctioning. i just keep
switching from gear to gear until it finally lets me in to
reverse. any ideas on how to fix it?

Answer
Yakov Yakir:

 I am only familiar with the older (Pre-1993) SAABS, but assuming that they haven't made any changes, it sounds like you need to remove the shift console between the front seats and take it apart. Once apart, there is a reverse lockout arm which could be causing the problem. I have removed these many times (one loses a bit of reverse lockout protection, but with an older car, it shouldn't matter). You'll need a special tool to remove the triangular nuts holding the console in place (at least as were on the older models.) I have made my own from either a pipe or filing slots in an expendable socket.
 Ani mekeveh she zeh ya-azor
                            Jerry