so my car is stuck on park and sometimes I can't get it( the shifter) to move. When I have my foot on the brake, the button on the shifter still wouldn't move so I can't move the shifter almost as if the car thinks im not stepping on the brake. My mechanic told me rear brake pads are really badly worn so could this be the cause of this? Is it something that need to be replaced?

Since I had the car I have never spilled anything in my at all but I donolt know about the last owner but it doesn't look like if their ever was a spill.

 

I had this happen to me as well, its the shift lock, it won't disengage. Its located on the auto shift console, you can use a screw driver to pry out the tab and then push the button down to allow the car to shift into gear. You may have to get a whole new shift console. For a temporary fix in my car I just jammed paper down it to hold the button down, but the shift lock started working again.

 

lets say i have to get a new concole how much you think one of these gonna cost? and i dont quite understand what you telling me to do? you want me take a screw driver and put in wea the button on the ****er is?

 

Well somebody is selling a AE shifter on the classifieds

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....49#post6280949

 

on the shifter (not the stick itself) Theres a little thing that says "SHIFT LOCK" and, theres a little tab with a small hole, which u can pull out with a flathead / your key.. and then when you have the tab off, put the key / screwdriver in there, and it will disengage shiftlock..

 

Its highlighted in red..

 

You can try wiggling the steering wheel too. I had the shifter stick after, stupidly, turning the wheel after putting the car in park and turning it off. I was able to get it unstuck by wiggling the steering wheel after restarting the car.

 

This happened to me also. It's a simple fix.

When your shifter wont move, check if you brake lights aren't lighting up also when you press the brakes. If they don't, the problem lies in a switch that is located under the pedal that activates both the brake light and the shift lock.

I can't remember the name of the part or the number, but you can PM DAVEB. He should know. Before you waste money on a new shifter, try this.

 

I have experienced this in several other cars too..not just maximas...

 

Just had this happen on my TL, it was the shiftlock. For an the entire shifter gate (P,R,N,D, etc..) it was $86 new from Acura. It and $150 for labor from a local mechanic. It's not free but at least its not something more serious

 

get ouuta my head!!! lol you know i just got home from school after talking to my mechanic. and on the phone he told me the same exact thing you said, you and him were right my brake lights arent working and he said it willl be a cheap fix. but i think the car felt bad for me and started to work again but anyway ima get this fix real quick cus i dont wwant someone to rear end me. So thankx guys for the help. i will update if its something else.

 

yeh steering wheel locks i thinks because of security i think but i had same problem one time when i had a carolla and the AAA guy was like you can press this and it will shift. i always wondered what it was and now i kknow. when i got my max (02 gle)the keys had a little circular key thing i belive for the shift lock

 

I had the same problem on my old '91 626. The problem wound up being a wiring harness under the hood that was starting to "go". There were some (under the battery) wires that had had the insulation eaten through. It was causing a short and it just happened to be shifter-lockout circuit.

I know on my 626 I could hear the shift-lock solenoid disengage when I hit the brake. I don't know if it's the same in the Maxima. If you do (should) hear it and you don't it could point to a problem in the 'detection' side of the circuit as opposed to the 'actuation' side of the circuit.

So, what did I do the next time, I bought a manual! But I think a wiring harness is going again (front left, ABS, flashers, cruise, etc.). D'Oh!

 

i had this happen to me recently when i was installing an aftermarket radio , try checking your fuses, my room lamp fuse went out and caused my shifter lock to not work properly just check your fuses to be sure its not that

 

Haha this happend to me the first day I got my car!!!

I parked in on my driveway which was like 40 degree angle. I went to leave and it would not shift. I forced it and I got it to get out of park. Probably wasnt a good idea but havent had the problem since, because my driveway now is flat.

 

guys it i foundout what the problem is. Its the plastic switch things that detects whether im braking or not to light up the brake lights. Since thats gone my brake lights dont work so my car thinks im not stepping on the brake so it wont let me shift. only problem is now my mechanic cant find a place to buy a replacement for it. i dont know ab8 contacting daveb bcus, i need the car fixed by saturday and i cant wait for things to be shipped to my house.Hopefully i will get good news tomm. i was stuck at home bcus i was scared to drive and get rear ended by someone.

 

I'll see if my father could get the part number or atleast remember the exact part name tomorrow. (I should have kept the box.)

According to the head mechanic at the dealership my dad manages, this is a pretty common problem with high milage maximas so they always keep a few in stock. Your local nissan dealer should know about it. When you get it, if they want to charge you for instalation, deny it. It's seriously a matter of just yanking out the old switch and popping the new one in.

 

YO! this exact same thing has been happening to me, off and on, for the last week or so. I get in the car start it up, put my foot on the brake, hit the button on the shifter, but it won't pull back. for a temporary fix i just keep a paper clip in my ash try so when it does get stuck i would pop the shift lock top off and stick it in there to get it out of park. I came here today to search for an answer, i'm glad i found this because its starting to happen more and more and getting really annoying. I guess i will have a place to start checking now, i'll check to see if my brake lights are lit the next time this happens. i hope its just the switch and it can be a easy/cheap fix.

thanks all for the imput.

 

Brake Light Switch

I haven't had to look at mine in the Max, but other cars that I've had have been relatively easy to replace.

To the O.P. - did you finally get your car fixed?

 

^^^^ hey wussup ppl? I did get it fixed the day I found out what was wrong with it. It was the switch and also a faulty bulb, also it could be you relay near the battery. Thanx for your concerns guys and if anyone need the diagram of where these things are pm me. It will hopefully help guys eventho i have an i30.

 

Is this strictly a dealer item or would a local parts store have something comparable?

 

Does anyone have the part number for this switch ? And im new to ordering parts from DaveB, do we just PM him or is there a specific thread/ webpage to do it on?
thanks

 

^ Actually you hop around one one leg while chanting Daveb, and he appears right infront of you. Just pm the guy.

 

" How to " on this available?

 

Hate to sound like like a total novice but can you tell me how you yanked the old one out? Im in the process of replacing mine and cant figure out how to pull the old one out .
THANKS!!

 

Mine is doing it right now. I think I have a different problem because it gradually got worse. I could her a clicking noise when i push the brake pedal. Any Ideas?

 

It could possibly or probably be the same switch. I guess you should get someone to see if you brake lights come on when you push the brake next time it acts up..

 

Holy crap my old thread is still open!!! Anyway for the person who is hearing the clicking noise, my car was doing the same thing and then it just got worst... So snyway i cant help ppl on removing it or anything bcus i didnt do this myself and my mechanis did everything lol. Anyway its behind the brake pedal.. Good luck ppl

 

Has anyone on here ever replaced this switch themselves? Im not sure if Im suppose to twist the old switch out or to just pull it... Can someone advise or point me in the direction of who could help me with directions on how to put in the new brake light switch?
Thanks!

 

Does anybody have a diagram or a how to for this? My shifter won't come out of "P" without bypassing it. It's a 2000 Maxima. SUCKS!!!!!!!

 

Yo bro, i'm still looking for the answer myself........!!!!

i hear the clicking noise when i press on the brake pedal, and my rear brake lights work, but i still can't pull the damn thing out of Park without having to push something down into the shift lock button.... HELP!

 

Yea this #$% sucks!!! I wonder if it's hard to tear apart the console to get underneath the shifter.

 

From the FSM

 

 

DaveVQ, thanks for that diagram!!! One question though, what's the "FSM"? Is there a website that I can download the whole service diagram for our car?

 

FSM = Full service manual

and yes at www.phatg20.net