Nissan Pathfinder 2007 GEAR LEVER STUCK in park

[Rana]

Dear All,
Hope you are all in good health....

I have recently bought used Nissan Pathfinder 2007. It was working almost fine since last 5 days (the gear leaver used to stuck in the parking but after 2-4 brake presses, I was able to get it released).
But today it’s taking a lot of brake press (10-25) times to release the gear leaver from parking.
At the place of release button/latch, there is a screw (meaning someone has previously done something with it.....I don't know....

Please help me to get this problem solved,,,,,,,, already spent a lot of money on wheel bearing kit and other things.....
New to the forum.
Many Thanks in advance...

[AZhitman]

Welcome aboard, Rana.

Easy to fix, but let's figure out why it happens.

Here's another discussion on the same topic that may be helpful (it's not as complicated as it looks, but a lot of people think it is).

FIRST, check to make sure your brake lights work when you press the brake pedal. IF your brake lights don't work, DON'T read any further. Let us know and we'll show you how to replace your brake switch.

If your brake lights work fine, keep reading.

NEXT, locate the shifter lock override slot located on the shifter console near the shifter lever. Normally, the slot is plugged with a small plastic cap. It's about 5mm wide by 1-2 mm high. Remove the plastic cap covering the override slot and insert a key, or similarly shaped object into the slot and push down. While pushing down, press the brake pedal, grab the shifter and push in the shifter lock button as you normally do and then move the shifter to the Neutral position (N). With the brake pedal still depressed, start the engine with the shifter in the Neutral position.

If that helped, then you'll want to replace the shift lock solenoid. It's not hard, and we can walk you through it so you don't have to spend a lot of money.

Good?

[rgk]

Once in a while you'll get lucky and not even have to replace the solenoid. I was able to clean out the area around mine when I had this problem. I made sure all the electrical connections were tight, and that solved it.

[Hawairish]

Similar problem but on a 2004. Hopefully the design hasn't changed much...

Previous owner disassembled the shifter to wedge a rubber tube piece into the shifter release because he was having the same problem. I solved the real problem: the switch that the shifter rests against when in park had failed. In addition to having the brake depressed, this switch also needs to be depressed to close the circuit to the solenoid. The solenoid was not bad.

I'd check continuity on the switch first before replacing the solenoid...the switch I needed was about $1 from Digikey and was an exact match. Can't imagine the solenoid being cheaper.