Nissan Repair: manual trans wont shift into 1st or 2nd, costly trip, shift fork

Question
I have a 2000 maxima and the trans showed no signs of any prablems and all the sudden it won't shift into 1st or 2nd but shifts into all other gears just fine. Please help I'm on a tight budget and can't afford a costly trip to the trans shop!

Answer
Paul,

Most probably the shift fork has broken or the shift selector has broken.  The way it works is the rest of the transmission is in neutral, no gears applied, and you shift from 1st to 2nd.  When you go to 3rd/4th the 1st and 2nd are in neutral.  So, it sounds to me like one of the things I mentioned is broken.  In either case the transmission will have to be removed, disassembled and repaired or replaced.  Replace the bearings while you are at it and the axle seals since they are known to leak on Maxima manuals.  Lost of horsepower for a front wheel drive.  I have a 20000 Maxima SE but it is only an automatic.