Whats Wrong With The Max

Ok guys, When I start up my car and try to shift it from park, The shit won't move. It takes me like 15 minutes to switch it from Park to Drive. This has been happening for like 2 days now and its pissing me off. So last night I parked her in my yard in Nuetral and put on the e-brake because I didn't want to have the same problem the next day. has anyone ever heard of this or had the same problem. Please HELP:(

Does the gear change button depress?

Get it checked out

I've noticed with just about any car, if you are on a hill, and then you let the car rest in park on the park gear, it usually takes a little force to move it out of park. so, what I do always, is shift to N, then pull the e-brake, then shift into P. I never have any problems.

Maximus-

I have had the exact same problem I think... try to remember, does it only happen when it's been cold? That's the constant in the equation when mine is screwing up.. running the car with the heater for about 15 minutes seems to work things loose for me.

try usin ur ebrake when u park on the hill, it will might make it stop if u will jus put on the ebrake before u take ur foot off the brake. its stupid, but ive found that when the i park on a hill and it does hang, jus lunge forward in ur car as hard as u can and catch the car with the brakes when you do it, it shifts like its on level ground then :D if its not that, then i would head for a tranny shop or find a friend that knows wat hes doin. have u posted on the org?

Originally posted by Spaz
Maximus-

I have had the exact same problem I think... try to remember, does it only happen when it's been cold? That's the constant in the equation when mine is screwing up.. running the car with the heater for about 15 minutes seems to work things loose for me.

This has been happening since Saturday night when I was in the Wendy's drive through. The shit just wouldn't move. My hands are like completely sore from trying to shift it for like 15 minutes every time I park. Thing is its hot here in Cali and it locks up even if I was driving for like 20 minutes, as soon as it hits park, its all over. 15 minutes before that beotch even budges. I'm completely pissed off at the situation. Thing is I need my car because I have many errans I run like everyday. My chevy beretta is not registered so I'd be stuck for a few days but I'm suppose to take the Max in to our mechanic "soon". My car drives fine though. No complaints, exept for the shifting thing. Can someone post it on the Org. I'm not registered. THANKS

Whoa.. seems like your problem is much more serious than mine... take it in, get it checked.

check your tranny oil level. maybe your leaking tranny oil. Hope this helps

Before you take it in. I had the same problem not to long ago and it was simply that the safety switch that releases when you press the brake was not releasing. To find out if for sure that is the problem take the center piece around your gear shift off and when you press on the brake you should see a white cylinder looking plastic piece with a metal rod going into it trying to move. If it is barely moving then that is the problem. To fix the problem cheap and it wont give you any more problems just move the metal rod completely out of the way by breaking it loose from the plastic piece or if you want buy the new cylinder and replace it. Unfortunately I don't know the correct name for this assembly but its purpose is to keep the car from been shifted out of park without the brake been pressed. so remember not to let kids play in your car after doing this. Ever since I fixed mine for nothing I haven't had one single problem shifting out of park. If you have any questions about this you can email me at donpctek@yahoo.com and I'll even give you a call and walk you through it over the phone because I hate to see someone pay for something that they don't need to.

Maxima fever is right. If your problem is that you simply cant shift out of park then its likely your plunger. Maximas, as well as many other cars, have a button under the dash that pushes in as the brake is pressed. This way the brake has to be pressed before the car will come out of park. More than likely the plunger is stuck and isn't letting the shifter know when the brake is depressed; so the shifter doesn't move. You can see the plunger under the dash. Your brake pedal will have two connected, one for your brake lights, the other for your shifter. You can replace them fairly easily, just go to your local Nissan dealer and tell them what you need. But first, just to be sure, look around the shifter like fever said and make sure nothing is blocking the shifter under there. I had a wire get wrapped around mine before and cause it to lock up. So it is possible.

The silver cylinder with the metal rod sticking out is called the "shift-lock solenoid," and if it is gunked or shorted-out, it will obviously not function properly. I would start there, as prescribed, and get some grease on it. It activates when you push on the brake (electromagnetically). The other lever is the lever that activates when you puch the shift-lock release button.