Thread: Shifter not coming out of Neutral

Sunday bump

alright, if you're looking to just start the car for the time being you can trick it into being in "park" so long as it's truly in neutral like you say.

Since the reverse lights are on, disconnect the reverse sensor on the transmission. See if that does it. If your reverse lights are still on, then something goofy outside the transmission/shift linkage is going on. If the lights turn off, see if you can get the engine to start. If not, take the park/neutral indicator and disconnect that as well, and using a test lead or even a paperclip, short the 2 terminals in the plug to make it think it's in park. At this point the ECU should think you aren't in reverse and that it's either in park or neutral. This hopefully should get you to start and run the car. It's what I'd do first if I were in your spot.

As for the shifter issue, it definitely seems like the bend you've got going on is causing a significant problem. That little button you were messing with has allowed me to take automatic Nissans and shift them out of park and into neutral without a key or any ignition power. It's there to help move busted cars off roads or onto trailers/tow trucks etc. You may need to remove the shifter mechanism and see what's going on. My bet is it's in there, as the transmission is computer-controlled and can't really "jam" the shifter mechanically.

I'm not sure if it is in neutral, seeing that reserve light on may me think that it was actually stuck in reverse?

I was going to disassemble the shifter mechanism and have a look underneath, but the problem is (and i've attached the picture below) how do I take out these 2 bolts? They are shaped oval with plastic lips keeping them from being able to be roatated as you can see so you can't turn them out like a screw and I turned them to what I thought would line them up with the hole but it still wont allow me to pull the plastic over it....is there some kinda special thing I need to do? Should I just break those little plastic lips off and then i'd be able to rotate the bolts?

I think he is talking about the cable connected to the front of the shifter. I think you should be able to pull/push that cable to get it into the gears. I have my parts car disconnected I might have to go out there and c if I can change gears easily or not. But on the other hand I might be wrong since I don't have much experience with stuff like this.

There are 2 cables, one (center) goes to the transmission (i assume) and the other (more on the passenger side of the front) goes to the ignition. I assumed they were talking about the thinner one that runs to the ignition, which I push and pull in that video i posted a few posts back and it makes me able to get my key out but I still cant push down the shifter button or move it anywhere. My next step was to take the whole shifting mechanism out and have a look underneath it so see if there was something bent causing the button not to depress (as Wingman suggested) but I can't get those 2 screws mentioned in the last post (picture) out..

Looking at the shifter and rod that the shifter mounts to and the problem you are having. I can only assume that there is something fouling the rod that goes down the tube and unlocks the shifter to move around. I think your solution is disconnect the cables, take the housing off, go to your local JY and buy a new shifter, install it, connect cables, fixed.

Not all shifters require this, but I think the shifter in sentra's are one solid unit. So the only solution is to get a new shifter. I know the S30 has the shifting shaft seperate from the handle and the housing. Had to tear one apart before

Dumb question:

Do you have the correct bit to remove those bolts?

you can use an allen wrench if you don't. Cheapo mechanic time

I'm actually using a Allen wrench that fits in there just fine lol and turns it, problem is you see those plastic lips on either side of it (i actually broke the back one off of the left one picking at it) they stop the bolt from turning a full rotating and unscrewing so i'm not sure how those are suppose to come out?




I mean if the computer can't stop that button from being pressed i guess it would have to be something going on with the shifter and it being bent like that. Whats "JY" i'm not sure i have a local one of those lol...maybe someone has one on the forums here they could sell me cheap ....anyway my issue right now is getting those 2 damn bolts off so i can actually pull the shifter out

You more then likely have a junkyard near you. If not there are tons of online Junkyards that can pull one for you.

if the plastic snaps I wouldn't worry about it. On most Nissan cars they made the parts that they do not want you reusing, non re-usable. I believe there are nuts that hold in the shifter and they are not body welded nuts.