Does anyone know what these do???
 

Quick backstory, I am trying to figure out why my shifter-button-rod is so tight.

Vehicle is 98 D1.

I got the console out and removed the gear selector box.

There is nothing that I can see that is hindering the rod mechanism (however, the mechanism is all inside of the rod, so I wasnt expecting to see much).

There is what looks to be part of a spring at the bottom of the rod (circled in green in pic 1). Is that a spring, and does it aid in the rod going up (or down)?

Also, what does the microswitch circled in pic 2 control? (The arrow in pic 1 shows the location of it as well as I can without an actual picture. It is attached to the thing with teeth which prevents shifting if the button is not pressed).

Pics are from the interlock solenoid section of RAVE.

Pic1:
http://img651.imageshack.us/img651/9378/transt.png

Pic2:
http://img542.imageshack.us/img542/2094/switch.png

i think if the shifter is stiff it may be the cabel needs a bit of lubbing !

Naw, shifts fine.

You see that little rod sticking out of the shifter in the first pic just to the right of the # "8"?

Your shifter button makes that go up and down.

My shifter button doesnt make it go up and down because something is making that rod is super tight.

Check with Paul Grant, he has a multitude of parts and knowledge and will make you a good deal from my experience with him.

Was the nut under the cap on top of the shifter tight

It was loose, but I tightened it. Didnt affect anything.