I usually wait for the engine temperature to go above cold...and even with this...the **** stays locked randomly. I will press the break, and it will still be locked no matter what. Sometimes restarting the car will help, or just keep pressing it until it does. Any ideas on why this is happening? Automatic....

I do hear the click when I press my break in the console.

 

It happens. Turn the wheel and it should unlock

 

Tried that...did not work. I took out the shift lock cover and pressed the button, only then it unlocked.....the gear does not unlock if I don't press the button......

Basically, every time I start the car I have to press the unlock button with a pen cap.

Any ideas on how to fix issue? What could be causing the problem?

 

My friend had the exact same issue. Turned out to be a bad relay located around the shifter in the console. Ill have him chime in here.

 

Friend here.
Pop off the center trim around the shifter and replace this blue relay located next to the shift lock assembly. It looks like this:



I have a few extras laying around, PM me, shoot me a couple bucks in paypal for shipping and I'll send you one.

Edit: When I had this problem a lot of people said it could be the brake switch but if your brake lights are working fine then it's 100% this relay.

 

I had this happen on my old 95, it was a result of too much spilled coffee and Tea that gummed up the gear shift :/

 

This post has your answer.

When your shifter is locked, press the brake and have someone check if your lights come on. If they don't its definitely the brake light switch. If not, its this relay.

This happened when I had my 4Th gen. It was soda though... lol

 

thats another reason to buy a manual

 

Hey, thanks a lot for the response. My brake lights are working fine, so I guess I have to replace this relay.

 

Just to make sure, you need to check if your brake lights are working at the same moment you're having the issue with the gear lever being locked; either you have someone check the lights for you or look for a reflection of some sort at the exact moment you are having the issue.
I had a similar issue, in which it would work sometimes and sometimes it wouldn't. Turned out to be the brake light switch.
I also ended up posting a How-to for that switch:

http://forums.maxima.org/6849952-post8.html

 

Update on the issue guys. So I opened the center piece and changed the relay which michaelm815 sent me (THANK YOU), but it was not the issue. It turns out I just had to oil it inside because the previous owner had spilled a sh*tload of coffee in there.

Thanks everybody.

 

Posting here what I have posted in a similar thread just to confirm that one should troubleshoot the blue relay first:

I was unable to shift from Park to Reverse or Drive without using shift-lock override for couple of years. I have opened the console between the seats to reach the shift-lock mechanism under the gear shifter this weekend. The blue relay was clicking every time the break pedal was pressed but the black cylinder with piston like mechanism was not pulling plastic tab out of the way for the gear shifter. I have replaced the blue relay with the blue relay (power blue relay) next to the interior driver side fuse box. It is working every time now for about a day and the clicking noise is stronger than before. Only the driver side power window was working when I used the bad relay as power window relay (specifications are the same). Just replaced the power window relay with a new relay from AdvanceAuto and all power windows are working.