Hey,

I have a 99 Se Limited. The last two days I have been having problem shifting out of park. It's not in the actual transmission, the push button will not press all the way in. I didn't know if this was a common problem with this year model or anything and I have checked the stickies so I'm sorry if I missed it.

After I get it out of park, it will shift into any other gear just fine. I always use the parking brake when I park the car. I don't know anything about the system that keeps it from shifting from park.

So... Is it fixable? I really have to keep my car I neutral with the key in the ignition. I really don't like it so if anyone knows of a temporary fix that wouldn't be a big deal to do, that would be awesome.

Any information is appriciated. Thanks.

 

i had that issue when i spilt some soda and it made the release button switch sticky. i sprayed brake cleaner on it and some wd 40 - solved the prob.

 

Yea it's just kind of weird. I can hear the clicking when I hit the brake but it feels more like it's locking more than it sticking. I don't know the exactly how it works. I usually have to press the button a couple of times before it actually presses down. Once it finally goes down it will shift to every gear fine. I have some time off tomorrow to take the console apart to try to clean and lub everything.

 

before i cleaned mine what i'd do was push the button and wiggle the shifter gently - it'd take a minute but always went in, just embarassing as hell in a parking lot.

 

Lol I hear ya. I wish mine were that easy. It's a 15 min process for me. Wiggle the shifter, key, steering wheel, nothing. The only thing that seems to work is to repeatedly press the button between half-way out and the point at which it locks.

Oh yea, it's not the stearing wheel locking it. I can crank it and everything, just won't go out of park.

 

yeah, under the shifter cover, on the pass side of the shifter you'll see a little white, plastic cylinder with a metal piston sticking out of the middle. when you press the brake the piston comes out and pushes the shifter lock open, when it's sticky it doesn't go out far enough to unlock.

 

all i know is my boy had a similar issue in his honda accord, and he didn't know what was wrong with it, he was gonna take it to a shop, but then i checked the fuse panel, and the backup lights fuse was blown, i changed it, and his auto tranny was normal again. i removed the fuse and the problem re-occured. so it was the fuse on his car, a maxima is complete different, but have u checked all the simple things first?

 

And thats why I dont drive a Honda

 

^^

 

probly a nuetral safety swith replace it

 

If its the park neutral switch, you can adjust it, unless its broken. To the OP Worth a shot, hows the fluid?

 

I have the same issue. Where is the neutral switch and how do a take off the shifter cover to check in there? Thank you....

 

You have a problem with the shifter lock button sticking? Then there's no reason to check the PN switch, that doesn't make any sense.

Remove the shifter trim and see if the shift lock solenoid is functioning as it should, and isn't gummed up with something.

If it's not working at all, check to see whether or not your brake lights are working at the same time. If your brake lights don't light up when it's acting up, then check the brake light switch.

 

does this happen where ur parked on a slope or hill? if so when u leave it in park apply ur parking brake and c wat the results good luck

 

Incorrrect fluid level also results in firm shifter. I have been thro this before and when I get the level right it magically goes away.

 

I really do not know if it is the shifter lock button or the PN switch. The reason I asked is because I want to check every possible cause. My brake lights are working fine. I want to know how you take the shifter trim off without brake it. If that's not the cause, I want to know where is the PN switch so I can check that next. Thank you for your help..

 

Well, can you or can you not press the shift lock button in all the way?

It's easy to tell which it is, either you can't press the button, or it's tough to move it from the park position to any other gear position.

To remove the shifter trim, just pull it up and away from the center console, it's just clipped in.

 

It happens no matter where I park and applying the brake doesn't work.....

 

No man, the fluid level is good....I wish it was that.

 

I can not press the shift lock button. Im going to remove the shifter cover now and see what happens.

 

hmmm..... u got me there beyond that i dont know wat it could be but if u find out be sure to let us know so we could be prepared in case and good luck with it.

 

I will, thanks...

 

unscrew the actual brown shifter. Take the shifter off. And all you should see is a metal rod that you can push down. Push down on the rod while applying the brake. It might be the actual brown shifter. It only takes like 5 seconds, so it won't hurt.

As far as taking off the shifter trim, pop the back of the piece carefully with a screw driver. Its held on with clips. Once the back is popped out, you should be able to slide it towards the back and the whole piece should come off. There are no screws holding down the shifter trim.

P.S. to know if your shifter is acknowledging the depress of the brake, you should hear a little click when you press the brakes. If you don't hear the click, your shifter is not acknowledging that your brakes are depressed which does not allow you to shift out of park.

 

i have the same problem from time to time - the button won't press in all the way. cleaning/lubricating the rod underneath the shifter helps.
to get it unstuck keep the button pressed in as far as it'll go (don't try to force it in) and wiggle the shifter.

 

I have the same problem from time to time. I'll have to check under the shifter cover...that is embarassing in a parking lot or with girls in the car haha

 

Finally got it. I replaced the shift lock relay and everything is back to normal. it took me a while to remove the shifter cover plate since this was the first time doing it but it is finally done. Thank you guys for all the help...