Nissan Altima
Shift Lock Release Guide
How to manually change the gear selector
from Park to Neutral in a 6th generation 2019 to 2024 Nissan Altima.
 Gear Selector |
 Shift Lock Release Cover |
 Pry Out Plastic Cover |
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This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the sixth generation 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and the revised or "face lifted"
2023 and 2024 Nissan Altima sedan in using the automatic transmission's
shift lock release mechanism to manually change the gear selector from "P"
(Park) to "N" (Neutral). This may be necessary if the 12V car battery is
dead or you lost the ignition key and the vehicle needs to be towed or moved
by hand. Owners of other Nissan, Infiniti or related Renault vehicles such as the Rogue, X-Trail, Note, Versa, Rogue Sport / Qashqai, Maxima, Sentra, Juke, Kicks, Murano, Pathfinder, Armada, Frontier, Titan, Quest, NV200, Q50, Q60, QX50, QX60 and QX80 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The only tool required to complete this procedure is a small flat head screwdriver such as from a precision screwdriver set. For safety, I recommend that you place wheel chocks on both sides of the tires and keep your foot firmly pressed down on the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving unexpectedly. Locate the small black plastic access cover just above the "P" on the gear selector trim cover. Use a small flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic access cover. |
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 Access Cover Removed |
 |
 Access Hole For Switch |
| Set the access
cover aside in a safe place. Please be sure that you have your foot firmly on the brake pedal to keep the vehicle from moving unexpectedly. |
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 Use Small Tool |
 Push Down & Hold |
 Shift From "P" To "N" |
| I found that my
flat head screwdriver wasn't long enough to reach the shift lock release
switch.
So I instead used a long Allen wrench tool. Insert the tool into the opening and push down the release switch. Hold the shift lock release switch in the down position. Change the gear selector from "P" (Park) to "N" (Neutral). |
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 Move Car - Shift To Park |
 Replace Plastic Cover |
 Access Cover Replaced |
| After you are done
manually moving the vehicle, shift the gear selector back into "Park". Push the small black plastic access cover back into the opening. Please
take a look at all of my
2019-2024 Nissan Altima DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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