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Shifter problem - Locks up


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Guest
Anonymous Poster

Aug 14, 2009, 1:46 PM

Post #1 of 7 (1913 views)
Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

I drive an '04 Nissan Maxima. The shifter went from being stuck sporadically and requiring me to press the shift lock to free it, to recently, getting permanently stuck, always requiring the shift lock release. The shifter only gets stuck from park into reverse, and then from neutral up. All other directions and operations go smoothly. My mechanic wants to deal with the switch on this, and I have a feeling that's not going to solve it based on the fact it works certain ways but not others.... Not an expert in this department though...

The brake pedal is making contact with switches down below, when it's pushed the brake light comes on and the shifter switch is released also, which you'd think would release the shifter.

What are the most likely solutions to this problem? There can't be many, I'd love to do it myself...
My mechanic wants to try replacing the switch on this (waiting right now to find one in the area), and I have a feeling that's not going to solve it based on the fact it works certain ways but not others.... Not an expert in this department though... Thanks for the guidance.


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 14, 2009, 1:52 PM

Post #2 of 7 (1909 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

 
That would be called the shift interlock feature. It operates on the same circuit as the brake lights so the first thing you want to do is to make sure the brake lights are working when this problem is present. If the brake lights are working, that proves the circuit is good up to that point, then you'll have to get to the solenoid in the console. Disassemble as much as you have to to access the solenoid near the shifting mechanism. Us a 12v test light to test for power coming and going at the solenoid when the brake is applied. If power is arriving and switching and the solenoid is not triggering, the solenoid is bad and will have to be replaced.



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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Guest
Anonymous Poster

Aug 14, 2009, 2:51 PM

Post #3 of 7 (1904 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

The brake lights are definitely working. What does the solenoid look like? If I take a picture of the middle console disassembled, may you point it out?

What do you mean by power "arriving and switching" at the solenoid, but the solenoid not triggering? I'm not fully comprehending... Thanks for your time and patience..


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 14, 2009, 11:42 PM

Post #4 of 7 (1896 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

 
I checked the wiring and yours has a module to control it and the solenoid is inside the transmission. I don't believe this is something you'll be able to diagnose yourself.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Guest
Anonymous Poster

Aug 15, 2009, 1:58 AM

Post #5 of 7 (1886 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

Does it seem fitting that this happened in a gradual process? It went from working perfectly 95% or more of the time, to 5% stuck in the way it's happening right now as described, to 66% 34%, to 100% stuck, as it is right now. To me this gradual tapering is unusual...let me know..


GregJ
Anonymous Poster

Aug 15, 2009, 2:15 AM

Post #6 of 7 (1885 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

Didn't mean to post anon...


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 15, 2009, 2:31 AM

Post #7 of 7 (1882 views)
Re: Shifter problem - Locks up Sign In

No, that's not so unusual. It has no bearing on how it needs to be handled now.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







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