Nissan Repair: 93 Nissan Altima Tranny Trouble, neutral safety switch, cindy cindy

Question
Hi, Von.  My 1993 Nissa Altima (automatic)has gear shift play.  Usually N means D and so on.  Sometimes this causes trouble when trying to start the car because it's really not in P.  Normally I can run through the gears and then start it.  I finally had to get a tow because I couldn't start the car.  This time, I noticed the overdrive light came on when attempting to start.  Of course, it started after the 30 mile tow.  I think it may be the transmission switch.  What do you think?  

If it is the tranny switch, where is it?  I'll have to fix it myself because I have been unable to find an honest/afordable mechanic.  

Just last week I took my truck to a well known tire company (the guys who come running...).  I had to get a tow truck to retrieve the blazer being held hostage. They told me the rotor was bad and the caliper fell off.  When I got it home, I discovered that I put one inside pad on backwards and fixed in in 30 minutes saving myself a quoted $400.00.  

Thank you in advance for your help.

Cindy  

Answer
Cindy,

The shifter bushings need to be replaced and that should correct the shifter problem.  Now, I would check the transmission out when you replace the bushings.  That is, disconnect the battery for five minutes and hook it back up.  This will clear the codes in memory.  If the Overdrive light does not flash you should be fine.  Nissan has a computerized program that will make the Overdrive light flash showing that the transmission has a problem.  No flash you should be fine.  But, replace the bushings soon.  If the transmission is still having to be shifted to start will mean that the neutral safety switch will need to be replaced.  It is located on the transmission where the shifter cable connects to it.  on the drivers side up high...