I have a 2000 Maxima and I just love my machine. Recently, I have noticed that sometimes (1 in 100 times) it is hard to move from park to gear. It does finally move from park to gear but with some extra effort.... I was curious if someone in this forum experienced this anamoly and what needs to be done to fix it.

Note: When the car is in idle, the hand brake is always exercised.

Venki

 

it's normal. I had this problem too when the car was new. This is due to the gate-shifter (new) and not the transmission. Though one thing I did noticed when I parked the car downhill, it took an extra effort to shift the car to gear 'cause the transmission is holding the car from slipping. For those who have an automatic transmission, always use your hand brake when parked!

 

He has a 2000 maxima though, so he doesn't have a gated shifter, although what you are saying about parking on hills is true, its harder to put it in gear on almost all automatic tranny cars when parked on a hill.

Bryan

 

comment noted but I was just refering to my similar problem.

 

Just use your hand brake all the time to keep the force from resting on the transmission / parking pin.

 

This is important for habitual reasons--if you get into the habit of applying both the hand brake and shifting it in PARK, you won't be screwed if you accidentally forget to put it in PARK like my dad did one time in his Isuzu
(lots of yelling with the owner of a car whose rear bumper got dented when his Isuzu Trooper drifted and bumped into it :-D)
And even more important for drivers of manuals, as I've forgotten to put mine in gear a few times now... (thank god for the hand brake though :-D)

 

same problem 2001

When I feel this I don't force it. I release the ebrake and push the brake petal a few times. then is is usually easier to shift from park. try it!