Shifter linkage?

[freakyjason]

my buddy has a 93' maxima with auto transmission and he's been having a bit of trouble getting it into drive lately. Some times, when he shifts directly into drive from park, it will just go into neutral and then he has toi shift it into 2nd and then back into drive before it will work. transmission shifts great and only has like 80,xxx miles on it. Checked the transmission fluid and it was full and seems fresh. We were thinking that it could be the shifter linkage. Maybe it needs to be lubricated or something? If this sounds like a possibility to any one with more experience with auto's than us, some insights would be greatly appreciated. I searched plenty already too with no luck. Thanks!

[audtatious]

Follow the linkage to see if it is loose anywhere? Should not be hard to track from under the car.

[freakyjason]

Alright man, good suggestion. Without the car being here, it's kinda hard to diagnose. Other wise that's exactly what i would have done. Just figured there might be a chance that some one would say "i know exactly what's going on."
Modified by freakyjason at 10:11 AM 9/1/2008

[audtatious]

Unfortunately a lot of those who have owned '93 Maxi's have moved on and we don't have a FSM for it either as the closest we have is a '94 which is the next gen.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/1994/

[MinisterofDOOM]

'94 is still 3rd gen.

It sounds like the shift linkage is just out of alignment to me. The manual audtatious linked above should help you sort it out.

[freakyjason]

Unfortunately a lot of those who have owned '93 Maxi's have moved on and we don't have a FSM for it either as the closest we have is a '94 which is the next gen.

http://www.nicoclub.com/FSM/maxima/1994/

Thanks for the link man! Huge help! Hopefully we can get this sorted out this weekend when i see him and the car again.