Nissan Repair: Wont Shift into Drive, shift linkage, emergency brakes

Question
QUESTION: I have a 1993 Nissan Quest GXE Minivan and I can't move the shifter to Drive, Reverse, or Park, can you help me figure out what part to replace?

ANSWER: Hi Glen -

Have a couple questions for you -

1. When you say it will not shift, do you mean that the shifter is stuck, if so, what gear is it stuck in?

2. Is your battery fully charged?

PLease get back to me -
thank you
aloha
calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Calvin,

The shifter will not allow me to go into any gear (forward, netural, reverse, park).  The cable is not engaging.  Again, I can start my vehicle but I can't shift into any gear

ANSWER: OK, first of all disconnect the shift linkage at the transmission. See if the shifter moves easiliy. If it does, looks like you have to get the transmission looked at, as it may be stuck in gear. I assume it must be stuck in Park?

calvin

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Calvin,

The shifter is broken.  I am not in any gear.  When I move the shifter it doesn't lock into gear.  Yes my battery is fully charged.  A friend thinks that the cable that is connected to the shifter is broken.  On the transmission nothing happens when I move the shifter on the steering column.

Thanks for your support.

Answer
Hi Glen -

Looks like you got a broken cable. However these things usually do not break, so I would try to move the shifter linkage manually on the transmission to see if it is not binding or jammed. No sense replacing the cable if the linkage is stuck. Something made it break. Please ensure that the emergency brakes are on, and wheels chocked.

Thanks
calvin