Thread: Shifter not coming out of Neutral

Long story short when i wrecked my old Automatic 1998 200sx SE (i bounced off a guard rail or 2) my shifter now seems just slightly tilted toward the passenger side and I can't push the button down to shift it into any other gear. I need to get it into park so that I can start up the engine (since it wont let me start it in any other gear). I tried pulling it back straight but that thing is to solid to budge. The car rolls straight in neutral cause I saw it roll off the flat bed when I had it towed to my house and the wheels spin fine cause I checked when I switched the rims. Nothing else is wrong with it (that i can tell) but the body damage, i just can't figure out where I should look or what could have happened that made the shifter "break" like that...any ideas?

You should be able to start the car in neutral.

Maybe one of the mounting screws (or a couple) broke, giving it a gangsta lean?

Oh well maybe the problem is bigger bcuz the car wont start lol. I mean I dunno what could be preventing it from turning over. Like everything seems normal, I turn the key get a quick click but nothing happens, like no other sounds, cept for like those noises you hear in accessory, like the pumps turning on or whatever it is......well what could have bent it to give it the lean? From sliding sideways? I mean I could deal with it leaning but the button on the shifter wont depress for me to change the gear

There should be a lockout button, that, I believe, will prevent it from shifting. Search it on the FSM, it will show you. It's around the shifter somewhere. Maybe that is broken.

What is the FSM? I have the shifter off and all the trim I'll take a look and see what i can see. This one is a stumper, like even so you said it should start in neutral but I'm hoping it had something to do with this shifter cuz honestly I don't know what else could be causing it

200SX start in neutral? The inhibitor will keep an auto from starting in anything but park.

Does the car allow you to take the key out of the ignition? Then it's not the lock either.

More then likely it's the cable that connects to your trans is hung up on something. Get under the car and check the cable from where it drops from the passenger area all the way to the trans. Granted it's coveres in plastic, but that just keeps it from getting damage not stretching and getting hung up.

Another possibility, depending on damage, is something is hung up in the trans.

FSM = Factory Service Manual.

Look on line there are several places that have them for free. Or you can pay like 20-30 for a searchable one.

No the car will start in neutral on an auto car. its probably the cable that goes from the keyswitch to the shifter to test take it off the shifter and pull out (about .5 in) and try to start

No I can't take the key out which I can only do in park as well. I'll check that cable tomorrow since I'm at work right now, I was hoping it wasn't the Trans, the front end wasn't bad at all, the collusion was loosing control and the back passenger side nailed guard rail first shifting everything over from behind the back tire but it did slide sideways a bit bcuz the seal on the passenger side tires broke and went flat but the rims and exhaust are still there and fine....maybe the slide caused the cable to get hung up tilting the shifter slightly.....I see if I can get pictures later.


Where is this cable from key switch to shifter located to pull it out

its on the shifter if you go to take it out. If the shifter itself is damaged shoot me a pm offer shipped as I have the one my car came originally equipt with