Hello All,
I am having a problem shifting my transmission out of PARK. The stop lights are fine and I can not override the shift lock with a screwdriver as outlined in the owners manual. I took the truck to the dealer and their verdict or 'starting point' is a new shifter, the cost is around $400 for the part and $300 for the labor. Has anyone else experienced a shifter problem with a QX4. As of right now I can get it to shift and I do have a second vehicle. I just think $700 is kind of steep for a 'starting point'.
It has gotten stuck about three times today but as of right now I can shift it out of PARK without any problem. So I may just roll the dice and see how long it lasts. I really like my truck and am suprised to be having this type of problem. Oh, my truck has 78,000 miles on it.
Thanks in advance,
Lisa
1998 QX4 shifter problem
Hi Lisa, Welcome to NICO!!
Have you by chance spilled soda or coffee or some other fluid that can become extreamly sticky once dried out around the shifter area?
If you have it is likely the fluid has gotten in the shift lock solonoid and caused it to bind when activated.
As far as the mechanical release goes.I suspect maybe you missed the lever when you pushed the manual release as that is a mechanical device and would work no matter what unless the entire shifter was broke to a point it wont work at all under no circumstance. In other words it wouldnt work intermittenly.
I have a trick for fixing these but the dealer wont do it and we wouldnt do it at our dealer either since there is a possibility the problem could return and the customer would ultimatly come back expecting us to fix it again for free.[Its only because of the liability stand point] What you can do is pull out the shifter assembly disconnect the electrical portion of it. if you can remove the solonoid from the shifter for ease. Soak the solonoid down with your typical household rubbing alcohol. let the alcohol do its work for a little bit to help dilute the subtance causeing the malfunction.then use compressed air to blow it out. If you dont have a air compressor the cans of for cleaning computer keyboards will work to blow all the alcohol out. You can usually pick those up at staples.
Have you by chance spilled soda or coffee or some other fluid that can become extreamly sticky once dried out around the shifter area?
If you have it is likely the fluid has gotten in the shift lock solonoid and caused it to bind when activated.
As far as the mechanical release goes.I suspect maybe you missed the lever when you pushed the manual release as that is a mechanical device and would work no matter what unless the entire shifter was broke to a point it wont work at all under no circumstance. In other words it wouldnt work intermittenly.
I have a trick for fixing these but the dealer wont do it and we wouldnt do it at our dealer either since there is a possibility the problem could return and the customer would ultimatly come back expecting us to fix it again for free.[Its only because of the liability stand point] What you can do is pull out the shifter assembly disconnect the electrical portion of it. if you can remove the solonoid from the shifter for ease. Soak the solonoid down with your typical household rubbing alcohol. let the alcohol do its work for a little bit to help dilute the subtance causeing the malfunction.then use compressed air to blow it out. If you dont have a air compressor the cans of for cleaning computer keyboards will work to blow all the alcohol out. You can usually pick those up at staples.
Re: 1998 QX4 shifter problem
Sounds like a good time to lubricate the mechanism below the shifter, if the transmission is hard to get into out of gear, the eye socket ball joints are dity and rusty.