Nissan Repair: Transmission not engage at all or not shifting, nissan maxima, bypass valve

Question
engine runs well, rpm's accelerate, however by shifting the gear shifter in to any gear NOTHING happens.  Automatic transmission.  Could it be the shifter?
After sitting for a while it started right up and drove about a quarter of a mile then stopped no strange noise or movements.

1990 Nissan Maxima, V6, 4door

Answer
Wendy,

You could try to change the fluid and filter and see what the fluid looks like.  If a fluid change does not do the trick you are going to be looking at getting a transmission rebuild or a used transmission.  You probably have something plugging up in the transmission, a defective bypass valve or a bad pump.