ACKK!!! MY CAR IS A POS!!

[Danman]

ERRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!! :|
So here is the story:
Well yesterday I took my girlfriend out to dinner and when we were leaving I start up the car and I try to shift into reverse. Well it was locked up and I couldn't shift. I was like WTF?! I depressed the brake and tried it again but to fail again........how embarassing. So this goes on for like 10 minutes and then I hit the gas and the brake at the same time and then it allows me to shift! YEA! Then, this morning it did it again. But I hit the gas and the brake at the same time and it allowed me to shift. These are only random times, cause it was fine when I left my house. Now, when I tried to leave, IT WON'T LET ME SHIFT!!! :| AT ALL!! :disgust: I am soo pissed. Oh, btw I have a 1995 Nissan Altima GLE. What a piece of fvcking sh!t. HELP MY FELLOW ATOT'ERS!


UPDATE!
The brake lights don't work now! :Q

 

[brtspears2]

Well, at least your car starts...

No more warrenty, right ?

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: brtspears2
Well, at least your car starts...

No more warrenty, right ?

I bought it used, so no........

 

[smp]

Sh!tty buzz dude ... I can't figure if it's standard or auto though ... if it's standard and you can't get it into gear, it's good to roll the car a bit, that works sometimes, but it sounds like you have an auto.

 

[pyonir]

call the wrecking yard. it's done for.


werd.

 

[iamwiz82]

i know my car will not let me shift into gear if i have the steering wheel turned too much. Does yours have a steering wheel lock?

 

[MrCodeDude]

It should still have a warrenty though.. Our 97' Maxima GLE, which we bought in 2000, has a 7 year warranty on it and it was pretty cheap, only a thousand dollars or something.
-- mrcodedude

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: smp
Sh!tty buzz dude ... I can't figure if it's standard or auto though ... if it's standard and you can't get it into gear, it's good to roll the car a bit, that works sometimes, but it sounds like you have an auto.

Yea, it is automatic. I'm really fvcked.

 

[BatmanNate]

None of my Toyotas ever like going into reverse, I've heard it's because of the reverse gear not being synched properly. I just release the clutch slowly while pushing down on the stick until in pops into reverse. (No gas of course) Don't know if it will help you at all, but worth a try maybe?

(BTW I didn't see if you mentioned whether or not your car is manual, so if not, disregard the above)

 

[308nato]

Probably no biggie. There is an actuator of some type that allows you to engage gears only after the brake pedal is depressed. Thank you Congress for looking out for us.

Usually its a cable but the newer stuff may be electronic somehow. I'm not sure. Those cables can stretch or get out of adjustment. Most likely thats all it is. If your lucky that is.

werd

 

[txgixer]

Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

 

[Brutuskend]

Sounds to me like you may have a busted motor mount and it may have bent some of your linkage...

 

[MichaelD]

Originally posted by: txgixer
Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not.

If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

 

[Danman]

I service it all of the time, and the last time I checked it the level was fine.

 

[smp]

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: txgixer Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not. If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

/me strokes beard
Yes, I support this theory, yes indeed.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: txgixer Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not. If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

/me strokes beard
Yes, I support this theory, yes indeed.

But my Dad and I checked all of the fuses and they looked fine. I know what you are talking about but the brake lights are fine. This is wierd.......

 

[flot]

Yeah, you're not being very clear here. Is the shifter physically not letting you move it out of "P" ?

Almost all automatics have a shift-lock that is an electric solenoid, attached to the break pedal. However mostl (my 91 Nissan 300ZX has it) also have a manual override, usually a little pushbutton lever along the bottom of the shifter. Do you have one of those? That would rule out the most obvious problem, that the shifter is locked in P.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: flot
Yeah, you're not being very clear here. Is the shifter physically not letting you move it out of "P" ?

Almost all automatics have a shift-lock that is an electric solenoid, attached to the break pedal. However mostl (my 91 Nissan 300ZX has it) also have a manual override, usually a little pushbutton lever along the bottom of the shifter. Do you have one of those? That would rule out the most obvious problem, that the shifter is locked in P.

No, the only button I have on my shifter is the Over Drive button. I turned it off and then tried to shift. It still doesn't allow me to. I am sorry for not being too clear, it's kind of hard to explain something about cars when you have don't have a clue what the fvck you are talking about.

 

[aphex]

<---- IM A BIG FAT MORON!

 

[smp]

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: txgixer Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not. If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

/me strokes beard Yes, I support this theory, yes indeed.

But my Dad and I checked all of the fuses and they looked fine. I know what you are talking about but the brake lights are fine. This is wierd.......

Yeah .. like Mike said .. just cause the break lights are working doesn't mean that the solenoid is, it only rules out the wiring in between the pedal and the lights (that switch too) .. if the solenoid is burnt .. well then, your lights will still work, but the shifter won't shift. Also, if that relay is getting flakey it might still work for the lights, but not the solenoid.

 

[Danman]

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: txgixer Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not. If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

/me strokes beard Yes, I support this theory, yes indeed.

But my Dad and I checked all of the fuses and they looked fine. I know what you are talking about but the brake lights are fine. This is wierd.......

Yeah .. like Mike said .. just cause the break lights are working doesn't mean that the solenoid is, it only rules out the wiring in between the pedal and the lights (that switch too) .. if the solenoid is burnt .. well then, your lights will still work, but the shifter won't shift. Also, if that relay is getting flakey it might still work for the lights, but not the solenoid.

Aight, well that gives me some relief. My friend is going to the local auto parts store and picking up a shop manual for me and then I'll see if I can get this part at Discount Auto......I'll let you guys know what happens.

 

[smp]

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: cashman

Originally posted by: smp

Originally posted by: MichaelD

Originally posted by: txgixer Auto tranny is usually uber expensive to work on. I am assuming you have checked the tranny fluid level?

Check the fluid level. Also, there is an electric solenoid, the same thing that locks your power doors that disengages when you depress the brake pedal. It operates off the same switch as your brake lights. Do your brakelights work? Do they work WELL? Your switch might be going, and it's sending an intermittent signal which sometimes unlocks the solenoid, sometimes not. If brake lights are ok, then the switch is ok, which mean that the solenoid is gone. Buy a new one for $25 and put it in yourself. Center console has about 6 screws that hold it in. Will take two hours if you don't know what you're doing, 30 minutes if you do.

/me strokes beard Yes, I support this theory, yes indeed.

But my Dad and I checked all of the fuses and they looked fine. I know what you are talking about but the brake lights are fine. This is wierd.......

Yeah .. like Mike said .. just cause the break lights are working doesn't mean that the solenoid is, it only rules out the wiring in between the pedal and the lights (that switch too) .. if the solenoid is burnt .. well then, your lights will still work, but the shifter won't shift. Also, if that relay is getting flakey it might still work for the lights, but not the solenoid.

Aight, well that gives me some relief. My friend is going to the local auto parts store and picking up a shop manual for me and then I'll see if I can get this part at Discount Auto......I'll let you guys know what happens.

Hey I'm just backing up what Mike D said .. I don't actually know anything about auto trannies

 

[MichaelD]

Hehe, technically, the solenoid is not part of the auto tranny. It's just a safety mechanism that keeps the shifter from moving unless the brake pedal is depressed.

And just b/c the brake lights work DOES NOT mean the solenoid is. Put the key in the ignition and turn it so the idiot lites come on, but don't crank the engine. Be still and quiet and gently tap the brake pedal a few times with your hand while putting your ear near the shifter.

If the solenoid is working, you will hear a very slight "click-click". Similar to when your power door locks, but much quieter.

With your ear near the shifter if you press-release-press-release-press-releas the brake pedal with your hand, you should hear a corresponding click-click-click from the shifter area. If no clicky, the solenoid/relay that controls it is toast. Remember, the key must be in the "start" position or the engine actually running to energize that circuit.

 

[TomC25]

I have the same problem.

I own a 1995 Nissan Altima GXE.

My wife tried to shift out of park one day and it wouldn't budge. We found out that if we jiggled it around a bit while pulling back it moves. We also talked to a lady I work with who had the exact same problem. She said the dealer told her it could be cheap or expensive. For her, it turned out to be cheap. All it was was some plastic part under the shifter that was faulty. We have not had our car looked at as we intend to keep it and we can get it to move by jiggling the shifter. It is random for us as well.

I hope the little plastic part is all you need to fix.

 

[Danman]

UPDATE!
The brake lights don't work at all! :Q Now what?!