I fixed the shifter. The plastic triangle shaped parts that surround the metal cable and ball were cracked and missing at the top, allowing the cable to shift around. This also reduced the tension in the cable. When set correctly, the metal cable tension will have the cable and ball retainer straight up, not laying off to one side like mine was.
You have to remove the chrome shifter rod to make adjustments to the cable tension. There is a black rubber pad at the bottom of the shifter housing that covers the access hole to the nut that secures the shifter rod (under the car, just above the transmission). Remove the pad and take the nut off with a 9/16th socket...the rod come right out from the shifter from inside the car, you do have to first remove the upper sections of the shifter such as the top plate and gear indicator cover. This is also a good time to replace the light bulb in the metal housing attached to the shifter rod. The cable isn't hard to adjust. You hold the nut at the base of the shifter rod with a 3/8th wrench while screwing in the cable that is attached to a 2in rod with a philips screw driver, this tightens the cable.
Chris