Help!!! Car is stuck in "park" ----> Won't shift to drive!!!
- Thread starter jc27
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Yes, I stepped on the brake all the way and it still won't shift. Not sure what's wrong... after trying to shift out a few times, the VSC lights and ABS lights come on. I tried taking off the center console to see if there was anything wrong with the shifter but I'm not too sure and don't want to mess anything up. I've read somewhere on another forum and someone mentioned a shift linkage? but I have no clue..
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Cybercannon
New member
Something similar happened to my old Nissan maxima and when researching it I came across other cars (I remember honda accord off the top of my head). I came across two common reasons.
One is a faulty brake sensor so the shifter doesn't recognize you're pressing the pedal.
The other was a faulty safety sensor where if too much weight was on the center console (child sitting on it) the vehicle wouldn't shift out of park.
I have no idea if that's an issue with 4Rs or not, or if they even have the same type safety sensors.
My nissan didn't do it all the time and it seemed worse in the cold. Sometimes if I warmed up the car and tried depressing the shifter's thumb button a whole lot rapidly I'd get lucky (If I caught it and didn't let go because I was doing it so fast).
One is a faulty brake sensor so the shifter doesn't recognize you're pressing the pedal.
The other was a faulty safety sensor where if too much weight was on the center console (child sitting on it) the vehicle wouldn't shift out of park.
I have no idea if that's an issue with 4Rs or not, or if they even have the same type safety sensors.
My nissan didn't do it all the time and it seemed worse in the cold. Sometimes if I warmed up the car and tried depressing the shifter's thumb button a whole lot rapidly I'd get lucky (If I caught it and didn't let go because I was doing it so fast).
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:bash:
Cybercannon
New member
Also the 4th gens have an override on the console under a plastic tab that needs to be pried off. I don't know if the 3rd gens do or not.
OK, I think I might have found an answer but I won't know until I can get it checked out tonight after work. It seems that my brake lights won't work... probably due to a cause. The other night I cleared out the VSC and ABS lights with the zero point calibration and I might have blown a fuse. Does anyone know which one or more fuses that control the brake lights??
Methodical
New member
Cybercannon said:
Flip the tab off and then you can use the override. That way you can shift out of park.
RoarFunner
New member
CAD-Man said:
Bingo!!! You'll usually find the switch under the dash near the top of the brake pedal lever. It could be simple as a stuck switch.
Yes it was a bad brake switch. After cleaning it a bit and re-tightening the plug it seemed to work ok, but today I was driving it and it seemed that it would work and then not work. Does anyone know how to replace it? or how much it would cost to do it myself versus the dealership??
CAD-Man said:
I would greatly appreciate it if you help provide those for me. Please send it to [email protected]
Thanks CAD-Man!!
I had the exact same problem. But it would be on and off. I thought my gears were stuck or I had a transmission problem. I took it to the Dealership the same day. I had an extended warranty. They fixed it while I waited. It was at no cost to me, and they said the issue was a faulty brake light sensor. The part cost $60. I remember they gave me an invoice and zeroed it out. I should still have the invoice in the car. Need to check it out later on.
Haven't had the problem since. You said you only had 30K miles on it. That's covered under warranty then.
Haven't had the problem since. You said you only had 30K miles on it. That's covered under warranty then.
rakib said:
That is my problem right now. I don't know if my warranty is still any good because it is an 03. I will have to check. Also CAD-man was nice enough to send me some instructions on how to replace the parts. I will take a look at everything this weekend and see if I can manage it, otherwise if the faulty brake light sensor is not very expensive then I might as well take it to the dealership...
Thanks everyone for your responses. I will update on this soon.
Ok, I finally got my problem fixed!!! or so I hope for now!! I ended up taking the car to the dealership and like some of you said, it ended up being the brake light switch. It will come on and off at times causing the car to be able to shift every now and then. The dealership charged me $85 to get the whole thing done. It wasn't too bad and only took a couple of hours if they have the part in stock. For those of you who are hardcore DIY-ers, the part cost about $35. Hope this will help others in the future. Thanks everyone!! :bigok:
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