Hey all, I just got 92 Maxima A/T as a winter car and it has 220k miles but so far is running ok. Yetsreday I was at a gas station, went to pay, pumped the gas and went inside to start the car and it didnt start.

The battery was ok because after the first click of the key all the electrical things worked. After toying around with a few things thinking of what could have happened I put the car in Nuetral and tried to start it. It didnt start.

I put the car back in Park and tried to start it and it finally started. I was like WTF

I got home and decided to play with the shifter to see whats up and it turns out that if the shifter isnt completley pushed forward in "Park" then the car wont start. Like if the shifter is a little bit close to the "R" the car wont start....


Is this normal on these cars or is something wrong with my car?

 

just nudge it a little should work fine

 

yea, i figured out that the car was not started because of the shifter being a little too close to the "R"

my question is if this is normal?

 

no it's not normal.

get a new shifter bushing.

if you paid more than 5 bucks for this part..you over paid.

 

No its not normal, but seems to be a fairly commonly problem. My car has a similar problem, but isn't starting at all now. No matter what you do to he shifter. I guess I need to change the switch and try again. Then on to the starter.

 

when you first tried to start the car did you hear a Clicking sound? like one click after you turned the key..

 

Yea, 1 little click after I turn the key.

When the key is turned all the electric stuff turns on... liek seat belts move and junk..... only it doesnt start. But when I push the shifter up like 1.4 of an inch it starts like normal.

 

Anybody have a picture of this shift bushing? Or a schematic from a repair manual?

I have no idea where it is, and my car does the same!

 

there's a small plastic sleeve that goes in this pivot point.

sometimes it's worn...sometimes it's missing all together.

 

I was told that my 91 Maxima too needs new shifter bushing. I think the cost of the part quoted as $8 and labor $35. So I decided not to do it now.

Can a novice do this? Has anyone done it?

 

I took apart the upper console to find this shifter bushing, but to my surprise I think its underneath the car!!!!

Can someone confirm this? Or do you infact get this from the center console?

Let me know
Mark

 

Yea its not very hard. it shouldn't take you more then about an hour.

 

Its underneath your car right above your cat. You have to unbolt your heat sheild and slide it towards the rear of the car.

 

Going to do the downpipe today, so this will be a perfect time to attack that stupid bushing!

Will post on how it goes. Thanks for the instructions!

 

Dan your the man once again showing your great maxima knowledge... Where do u get the pics from manual? I dont have the luxury of having one..

 

How 'bout a work-around: adjust the switch. I'm guessing that the switch makes up when the shifter is in Park, allowing the engine to be started. If Hustle's switch isn't making up so he can't start the engine without pushing the gear shift up towards Park, maybe the switch is misadjusted.

Or, adjusting the switch may be easier / cheaper than replacing some bushing in the shift linkage in some unpleasant-to-get-at location. Esp. for a winter car.


Good luck, anyway,

Kirk

 

don't have to completely remove it..
you can remove two bolts on one side and gently bend down the head shield enough to get your hand in there. (wear gloves)

there's a retainer pin and a curved washer. pull both out and pull the pivot nut out. slide the bushing on there and then put everything back.
bolt up the heat shield and you should feel instant difference in the shifter feel.

 

$8 for the part??? holy crap!

 

Yes! I wasn't shocked because I am a novice.... but now I do!
Having read all the good suggestions here and knowing that my heat shield is anyway fallen off... it's a worth trying out. What you say?

 

Okay changed the bushing, I unbolted the entire heat sheild and slid it down. Not a big deal.

The clevis pin on the end, with the washer were severely corroded and I had to clean them up a lot to even see where the pin came out.

Other then that I cleaned it up a bit with some sandpaper, added some silicone lube, put the bushing on. and BAMMMMMOOOOOOOOOOO it was all back together.

Shifter feels 100%, Goes in a lot more precisely into DRIVE and REVERSE!!!

Here are the details on the actual part.

Part #4552-89900 Nissan calls it an "Insulator" and my cost was $0.75

Best 75 cents I have ever spent!

 

glad it worked out for you....
but for 8 bucks..they are on crack.