Excessive play in Auto Shifter '01 Pathfinder

[mega4ce]

Hi all,
First time posting to this forum. Just picked up a 2001 Pathfinder SE 4x4 and have noticed a lot of play in the shifter on the automatic transmission. It doesn't seem to be affecting the truck going in to gear at all but it seems as if you can almost move it an entire space down the box and back while driving. It does not change the gear, just moves back and forth. Is this something others have encountered?

[Towncivilian]

Welcome to NICO.

In my opinion, you should leave it alone, I tried adjusting mine and was unhappy with the end result. If you tighten it too much, the shifter will feel "off" and won't seat in the detents properly. As long as you can feel each detent when you move the shifter, the gear is actually selected, and you can't change the gear when one is selected (except between R -> N/D and D -> N which is supposed to not require the shift knob pressed) you should leave it alone.

[mega4ce]

It doesn't affect the function at all so I think I will take your advice and leave be for now. What did you end up doing to adjust yours? Was it bushings? or just an adjustment?

[Towncivilian]

There is a coupler with two 10mm (or 12mm, can't remember) nuts on each end with thread locker. See page AT-276 of the factory service manual for an exploded parts view.

If slack increases significantly, I would think about tightening things slightly. Perhaps you should still disassemble and ensure the nuts aren't loose and maybe reapply some blue thread locker (I think it's red from the factory). It was very tough to loosen mine even 12 years since the manufacturing date.

[mega4ce]

Thanks so much for the info

[Chris.m]

I have the same problem.

About a month ago, I took the plastic center console apart out to take a look at the mechanism.

I hoped to find something obvious, but it all looked as it was supposed to.

I didn't really want to mess anything up, so I left it.


So did adjusting the nuts help?

[mega4ce]

I havent tried the adjustment yet. I will post once I have. The alignment is fine on it so I am not sure if adjusting the nut will tighten the play or just adjust the alignment.

[Towncivilian]

Loosen the top nut first, adjust the center piece upwards, then tighten the bottom nut; this will be more obvious when looking at the exploded parts view and the actual mechanism. I still ended up tightening mine a little to get rid of some slack. The red indicator is darker partially since it exposed a portion that was never exposed to sunlight. There's still some play and it took a while to get used to the change. I should've left it alone in my opinion, but maybe you will have better luck. Either way, post your results.

[mega4ce]

Finally got around to attempting this fix and it worked like a charm. I left a bit of play so that I could still have the shifter lock in each slot easily. One bolt to remove under the ash tray, unscrewed 4wd shifter knob and popped off the housing. Needed two 10mm wrenches so as not to torque the shifting rod that needed adjusting. Thanks for the help Town!

[Towncivilian]

Glad to hear it worked!