Nissan Repair: Nissan Altima - replacing shift light, nissan altima, shift light

Question
Hello and thanks for your time to help answer these questions.  My daughter purchased a used 2000 Nissan Altima with an automatic transmission.  The shift lever is on the floor between the seats.  She has had the car for about a year and there has never been any lamp (light) on the gear selected (Park, Rev., Neut., Drive, etc.) It's not so bad during the day but at night she can't easily tell what gear the car is in.  I think there must be a lamp there that is burned out but when I removed the cover over the shift arm it wasn't obvious and I didn't want to start tearing things apart.   I know it is probably difficult without a picture but can you give me any pointers in finding and changing the lamp?   Thanks in advance -Bill

Answer
Bill,

The shifter is interesting to gain access to.  First, the console has to be removed.  To do this run the seats to the front most position and access the screws on either side.  Then, remove the ones in the console and the ones up front.  A Factory Service Manual is the best way to see where all the screws are.  After you lift the console off the shifter cover is snapped in place.  Gently remove the cover, you do not need to remove the shifter handle.  Now, with the shifter cover up you can access the bulb.  Nissan wants around $10 bucks for two bulbs.  You can source a bulb at Radio Shack for less than $4 dollars.  Just take yours in and match it up.  If you want to do the sympathy thing and spend the $10 bucks you can have the Nissan parts guy look up the diagram as to where the bulb goes and he can do a screen print.  Sometimes it is worth paying a little extra to get the diagram.