Transmission will not shift out of park

Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 2009 NISSAN MURANO
  • 3.5L
  • V6
  • 2WD
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 158,200 MILES
While driving home the other night I heard my car making noise like it did when my power steering pump went out and by the time, I was about to pull into my driveway the noise became very loud. I had to shift it into park on the street to move a car out my driveway and when I went to shift mine from park to drive to put it in the driveway, it seemed to be stuck in park but somehow I got it to go into drive and I parked it. I got a new power steering pump and put it on and now it is stuck in park again. I noticed that the shifter linkage under the breather housing has a bracket and when comparing it to the pic in the Haynes manual mine appears to be on upside down and backwards and the bolt that holds it onto the bracket has a lot of play and it looks like it once had a bushing maybe that's gone. Basically, I tried tightening the nut on it but that didn't do any good it still moves a lot I am including a pic of the manual's pic and then of my trucks from the same angle as the book pic was taken. So, maybe you can tell me if I'm right and it's wrong as well as if this could have anything to do with it not shifting out of park. Also, I have had a transmission leak from my axle seal but when I started it after doing the pump there's a bunch of fluid that came out on the ground underneath my truck way more than I have ever seen come out before. So, can you please help me try and figure this out? Thank you sorry it's not letting me add pics. I will try after I verify my?
Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 8:00 AM

17 Replies

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Since you replaced the power steering pump, has that noise gone away? Also, is it transmission fluid that is coming out under the vehicle?

I attached a pic below showing the shift cable/linkage. Does it look like what is on your vehicle? Also, where do you see the play?

I do have one more question just to confirm. You are able to move the shift lever, but it won't come out of park. Is that correct?

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
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Tuesday, June 28th, 2022 AT 8:09 PM
Tiny
MISSWIMMS77
  • MEMBER
  • 40 POSTS
Yes, it looks like mine. I will try to upload it again. And no, the shifter is not moving inside the truck and the part on top of the transaxle only moves 1 space backwards when I remove the manual lever nut.
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 1:05 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
When you disconnect it, are you then able to move the shifter in the vehicle?

Also, please keep in mind if you disconnect the linkage and move the shift lever on the transmission, the vehicle can be removed from park and move. Make sure the parking brake is engaged. Also, you should be able to move it more than one click and it does seem to have a good bit of play. Is the nylon bushing still there, damaged, or worn?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, June 29th, 2022 AT 10:00 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
If by bushing, you mean on the bolt that the nut screws onto, yes, it's gone. I can move the bolt up and down even after tightening. As for moving the shifter inside, no it won't leave park, but I haven't tried when it's disconnected yet. Is that what you think I should try?
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Thursday, June 30th, 2022 AT 9:40 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Yes, give it a try and see if it moves. I just want to make sure nothing is binding in the transmission. Please be careful. Make sure the vehicle can't move.

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, June 30th, 2022 AT 7:49 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
Sorry it's taken so long to respond but with the manual lever nut off I can move it under the hood through all gears. However, going from park to reverse is harder to go into then the others and when inside and the nut still off no it won't go out of park at all.
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2022 AT 8:02 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
Here's a pic of the bushing. It's the best I can take of it and of the bracket in my truck where it looks upside down and flipped around verses the one of the pics and the Haynes manual but taken at the same angle.
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2022 AT 8:12 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
Hi,

Based on not being able to move it from inside even with it disconnected indicates a problem with the shift interlock. That is actually good news because it means there isn't a mechanical issue in the transmission.

Don't laugh but check if the brake lights are working. The brake light switch is what powers the park lock. The parking brake light is powered by fuse 7 in the fuse box under the left side of the dash. If the lights don't work, confirm the fuse is good and has power to and from it. Here is a link that you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

Also, there is a shift lock release at the front of the console. See pic 1 below. There is a button that when pressed, it should come out of park. See if that releases it.

Pic 2 simply identifies the brake light fuse.

Let me know what you find.

Joe

See pics below.
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Sunday, July 3rd, 2022 AT 9:00 PM
Tiny
MISSWIMMS77
  • MEMBER
  • 40 POSTS
Do I put the manual lever nut on before I mess with this?
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Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 AT 9:22 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

Yes, I would recommend it.

Let me know how things turn out for you.

Take care,

Joe
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Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 AT 8:39 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
Here's a video of where I'm at I had responded earlier but don't see it now. So, here it goes again whether the nuts on or off won't move inside the truck at all. Yes, the brake lights work the button you said to push is just an open hole, so I took off everything you see in the video and while doing so it seems as if the previous owner may of delt with this before to cause the console just popped off and the shifter stick just pulled right. I ff wo it is going into drive like the Haynes manual said to fo and it didn't have some piece at the bottom of it like the manual said it would ether so I'm waiting on your thoughts next.
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 AT 9:14 AM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

There should be a small horseshoe-shaped clip holding the lever handle on. (See pic 1) If you press the blue rod in the shifter, will it move? If you press the release button at the beginning of the video, will it move?

I have one other question. With the key on, if you press the brake pedal, do you hear the shift interlock actuator clicking?

Let me know.

Joe
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Wednesday, July 6th, 2022 AT 8:43 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Hi,

The clip that holds the shifter on the shaft missing may be part of the problem. If the top of the shifter isn't tight, you may not be pressing the blue release shaft at the top of the shaft to release it.

Let me know.

Joe
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Thursday, July 7th, 2022 AT 1:13 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
  • 28 POSTS
Okay, there isn't a clio holding my shifter onto the stick in the console it just lifts right off however, when I press this white button on the left I can then move the shifter but I can only push it with it apart.
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Thursday, July 7th, 2022 AT 7:19 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
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Okay, that is the emergency release. If you press the blue rod, will it shift? I took a pic of your video and attached what I'm talking about.

Let me know.

Joe

See pic below.
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Thursday, July 7th, 2022 AT 8:04 PM
Tiny
1977WIMMS
  • MEMBER
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The pic of the white button is the only way it will move out of park and into any other gear. I don't want to put it all back together if I'm only going to have to take it back apart to hopefully fix the issue. As for a clip of any kind that holds the shifter on the stick it doesn't have one it just comes right off of it. Any ideas?
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Thursday, July 7th, 2022 AT 8:33 PM
Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 110,176 POSTS
If that is the only way it will release, and pushing down on the blue rod doesn't help, I feel the shifter assembly will need to be replaced. Something must have come apart preventing it from releasing. Have you taken notice if the park release solenoid is clicking or working when the key is on, and the brakes are applied?

Joe
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Friday, July 8th, 2022 AT 6:54 PM

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