Gear selector problem

KROOKY

MEMBER
1993 NISSAN MAXIMA
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
198,000 MILES

I am am having trouble selecting 'Drive' with the automatice gear shift on my 1993 Nissan Maxima. Otherwise the automatic transmition is working fine, as is everything else on this excellent example of this model. This has only just started to occur and I am getting around the problem by putting it into 2nd, moving off and then puting it into Drive.

5 Replies

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Hi Krooky, It sounds to me like the linkage on the transmission may be rust or corroded, a simple shot of Pb blaster, should loosen it right up, if that doesnt work, then a replacement of the linkage, on the transmission which only consists of two bolts and a shaft. But it should not be necessary

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Wednesday, March 9th, 2011 AT 5:37 PM

KROOKY

MEMBER
5 POSTS

Actually I'm pretty sure this is not the problem as there doesn't appear to be anything getting stuck. When I select Drive it is effectively the same as being in nutral. When I select 2nd or 1st it engages correctly. I have found out that all I have to do to get Drive to engage is to select 2nd first and then put it in Drive and then its fine.

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Thursday, March 10th, 2011 AT 8:42 AM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

Sorry I misunderstood I the. Question. Before we start check the color and smell of trans fluid via the dipstick look to see if there are any metal flakes. Also verify that it is full. Because a tranny that is low on fluid wil slip and do this

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Thursday, March 10th, 2011 AT 2:01 PM

KROOKY

MEMBER
5 POSTS

No worries. I have already checked the transmission fluid and it is clean, clear and at just the right level, as it should be, because the car had a major service not so long ago. As I have said, other than this glitch with Drive not engaging when first selected, the transmission seems to be working fine in every other way. It's just that to get the Drive selection to work, I first have to select 2nd (or 1st) and then immediately put it into Drive and off it goes like normal. If I don't move the shifter from Drive when I stop at lights, it remains working fine, but if I take it out of drive and put it into neutral, while I wait for the lights and then put it back into Drive, its like its another neutral and I have to go back to 2nd and then move it forward into drive before it activates Drive as it should.

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Thursday, March 10th, 2011 AT 2:40 PM

LEGITIMATE007

MECHANIC
5,121 POSTS

It souns to me like it may have something to do with the torque convertor clutch or maybe just the solenoid. And there is no check engine light. Also is there a warranty on the work they did?