Stuck in park

[Steve Sauer]

Last fall my 1995 G-20 was stuck in park. After working in the shifter area I was manually able to get it out and used duck tape to keep the button on the shifter from locking. I later found out that I had no brake lights when I did that. Apparently a brake relay was defective and subsequently replaced. It happened again a couple of weeks ago, but my mechanic went out of business and the nearest Infiniti dealer is quite a distance. My question is: Is there a known problem with this relay or switch, and can I order one? Could it be something else?

[maxnix]

Infinitis, being an uppper crust brand, prefer goose tape over the standard duck tape.

Seriously, I think you may well have your problem diagnosed correctly. Might try to download a manual from http://www.nissan-techinfo.com , or buy one (and the parts) from the guys at http://www.infinitiparts.com .

I think there is still a http://www.g20.net site out there also.

[Jberger]

I'd also check the rear lamp sockets, something is pulling too much current and overheating that relay... Sounds like the wrong bulbs or a short in the sockets.

[greg_atlanta]

Sounds like sensor at top of brake pedal. If it's same as Q45, it looks like a spark plug. Part is around $10.

Helps to be flexible to replace. Kinda hard to reach.

Doesn't trans have shift lock release?

[Steve Sauer]

I really need to get into this more. It would help if I were more mechanically minded, which I'm not. The shift lock release will not work if the relay goes out because it derives its power from the relay (my understanding). That is intentional because they don't want you driving without brake lights which is what happens with the relay out. I call it a relay because that was what I was told; it may really be more appropriately called a switch. The mechanic who found the problem before found it quickly as a result of having a schematic available. How he got that so quickly I'll never know... If I press on the brake I can hear the relay kick in and out, but the brake lights come on only intermittently, and they will not come on with the brakes fully depressed. Nor will the unit shift out of park while pumping the brakes to energize the relay. This time around is a little different from before in that this time I can get the car out of park with the ignition off and then start it in neutral and at least drive it (without brake lights). The last time this happened it would not go out of park period.

[Q45Viper]

That sounds strange, I can offer one thing. The Q WILL drive without brake lights with no lockouts, strange to think that the 20 would not.

[Steve Sauer]

It does sound strange, and I didn't know about it until I read it in the manual. I also just found out that, although the nearest Infiniti dealer is about 1 1/2 hours away, it is next door to my parents retirement community. So I am going to make an appointment in the morning. They can also advise me on the check engine light which has been on for the last 10K miles....