Is my transmission jacked or just the shifter?

[Ignatius]

So I noticed yesterday that my gear indicator (what was referred to as the "prindle" on Green Acres) seems to be off by one gear, ie when I'm in park the indicator is on 'R', when I'm in reverse it's over 'N', etc. When I say 'over' I don't mean completely like it's shifted over exactly one, it's more like it's slipped or something and the indicator is about 80% of the way to the 'next' gear.

The transmission isn't slipping at all; when I shift into another gear everything goes as smoothly as it always has. I just noticed this issue yesterday, but I don't know for sure when it happened. Any chance this could affect/is affecting my tranny, or could it be just a loose connection between there and the indicator?

 

[NickDanger]

For years I drove a jeep that didn't even have a gear indicator (got knocked off and never replaced). I just shifted by feel. It's no big deal.

 

[accuratehorn]

If it shifts correctly, i.e. doesn't "flare," jump out of gear, or slip, then it is just the position of the shifter relative to the housing it is in. It either has a cable or a mechanical linkage. This can probably be adjusted so the shifter is back where it is supposed to be. It could even be the console that has moved. Or you could ignore it if all the gears work correctly, and it goes into park when you want it to.