240SX auto transmission question please help

[elusive240]

I just bought a 96 Nissan 240SX that has an auto transmission. It had some front passenger side damage that I fixed (LCA, strut, tie rod, etc.), but now that I can move the car I've found some issues with the transmission. When I push in the button on the side of the shifter to change gears it doesn't lock in certain gears. I can put it in park and drive just fine, but when I put it in neutral and reverse, I can just slap it into a different gear. It doesn't lock into the gear so I can't get the car into reverse. I've never messed with the transmission in a car before, so any help you could give me would be appreciated. Please don't tell me to just do the 5 speed swap because I have two other 240's that are 5 speed, and I intend on swapping this one to 5 speed as well, but not right now. I just want to get the car driveable. If there is any more information that you would need to help diagnose the problem, just let me know and I'll try and get for you. Thanks guys!

[elusive240]

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[180fan]

this only happens with the overdrive on? how have you been driving this car? Have you been trying to dump the transmission into the 1 and 2 while the car's moving and move it to neutral while it's still rolling or something?

[elusive240]

When I bought the car, the whole front passenger side suspension was screwed. So I haven't driven the car yet. I just got the LCA, strut, spindle and everything installed on the car so that it is driveable again. I pulled it out onto the street and only drove it about 20ft.. Then when I tried to back up a little, it wouldn't back up. I pushed on the shifter a little and the shifter would move up into neutral without me pushing in the button on the side of the shifter. It's like it isn't locking into neutral or reverse. I don't know if it's a transmission issue or is it something bent in the shifter. I thought that maybe the impact from the previous owner might have bent something on the transmission so that it's not lined up right. I don't want to drive the car until I have this figured out. Thanks!

[nightkid86]

Sounds like the selector rod which runs from the shifter to a bracket sticking out of the top/passenger side of the transmission may have bent. This would cause the gears to be "shifted" so that the shifter doesn't line up with the correct gear.

Just my .o2$

[elusive240]

Thanks a lot for the input! Does anyone else agree or disagree?

[elusive240]

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[elusive240]

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[elusive240]

Ok, I looked at it briefly with one of my friends today. When you put the car in drive, it will push directly into neutral. Same thing with reverse. You can push it directly into neutral. When I did put it in reverse, I gave it gas and it reved up to 2k rpms, but it didn't go anywhere. It wouldn't rev past 2k rpms, and it won't move in reverse. Any ideas???

[ISUJinX]

Dunno about the KA... but most trannys will always slap into neutral. from drive or reverse, and then lock at neutral - so you dont slam from R to D while you are still moving. As far as it not going in reverse, do the backup lights come on? That will let you know if the reverse sensor on the transmission is working. Also possible that the reverse solenoid (or wiring to it) was damaged in the collision.

[elusive240]

ISUJinX, thanks for the help! The reverse lights do come on when I put it in reverse. I'll have to try and find the reverse solenoid to test it and see if that's the problem.

[ISUJinX]

The solenoids are in the transmission IIRC. Perhaps the wiring is messed up. .. but beyond that, I know jack about auto trannys. It might as well be black magic making them shift. Ever seen the hydraulic passageways? *boggle*

[elusive240]

Ok, thanks man. I'll try and find them. I know jack about these to, since it's the first car that I've ever owned that had an auto transmission. 5-speed for the win!!!

[Kckouki]

On my '98 (its auto for now)(never wrecked) You can be in drive and slap it into nuetral. I havent tried any other gear.

[Goldeneagle]

Well...you should not be able to put your car into reverse going up from neutral without having to press the side button....If you can put the car in reverse without having to press the side button...your selection bar is messed up....the same goes for switching from drive into 2nd or 1st...you should have to press the side button.

Check your transmisssion fluid since your car is not moving when you rev the engine beyond 2000 rpm

[elusive240]

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[elusive240]

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