Pathfinder Stuck In Park (Sometimes)

[campbmic]

Hey everyone! I have a 2006 Nissan Pathfinder with around 130k miles. I've noticed for the past month or so it keeps getting stuck in park, it seems like the button on the shifter will stop working. If I turn the car off then back on and quickly press the brake pedal and shift, then it will shift out of park about 25% of the time.

Also, when I turn the car on and press the brake pedal I will sometimes hear a click coming from the shifter knob. When I hear this click, then the shifter will work and I can get out of park. If I do not hear the click, then the shifter will not work.

I've googled the problem and it seems like it "Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid". I wanted to ask if these symptoms sound like a problem with the Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid or something else. Also, when I press the brake pedal my brake lights do come on 100% of the time (even when shifter is stuck in park).

Before I buy a Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid, is there a way I can make 100% sure that is the issue?

Thanks everyone!

[campbmic]

UPDATE: Well I popped off the cover for the parking brake release (little circular cover about the size of a penny). I tried to press down the release but it would only budge slightly. I turned the car back on and pressed the brake again, and heard the Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid engage. I pressed the brake pedal about 20 times and it worked every time. I turned the car off/on and pressed the brake about 20 more times. I repeated this a couple of times and it works every single time. The car will not shift out of park without the brake pedal pressed down, so it doesn't seem like the parking brake release worked.

The truck is 12 years old and there was a lot of gunk under the bezel. I guess I can just clean everything and see if the solenoid keeps working? Anyone else have this experience?