How do you replace the shift selector light bulb on the Nissan altima?

Answer 1

Replacing Shifter bulb in 1997 Altima

There is a small light bulb under the gear indicator (PRN21) at the base of the shift lever. When that bulb burned out, I couldn't tell what gear I was in at night. I found the bulb replacement moderately difficult because I had not done it before. It took several hours. You may want to read these suggestions through before you start. My main concern was removing the console but it was not difficult at all.

Here is some help and tips.

WARNING: This procedure requires you to manipulate the shift lever in- and out-of-gear and to release the hand brake. CHOCK YOUR WHEELS.

You WILL be able to drive your car any time during this procedure, like when you take the burned out bulb to the auto supply store for a replacement.

General appearance of work area to get at bulb.

PROCESS

1. Pry up the basal at the base of the lever containing the coin "tray." The rear end will pry out for removal.

2. Remove two screws visible at the shifter base. These hold the center console together with two more screws at the console sides in the console rear. Move the seats full forward, get in the backseat and remove the 2 screws located on the sides.

3. Lift the console up and out. The hand brake handle needs to be pulled thru the console's rubber sided slot.

Floor area with console removed. Console out of the way in the back seat.

4. Two more screws are now visible practically underneath where the front console screws were located. Remove those two screws. Then you can spread the moulding and hold them out of the way by pushing them outward and down.

Rear screw holes of right side mouldings: tan is lower side- and black is upper side-moulding. (Black tongue covers the plastic strip surrounding the lever when lever is shifted.)

5. Under the ashtray and cigarette lighter you will see two more screws holding some of the side trim. (Put paper or something under these screws to prevent them from dropping into the gap below them upon removal). Remove the screws.

(You don't need to remove the lighter, but pulling out the ashtray seemed helpful. Press down on the top silver tongue inside the tray and pull it out. To put it back, line up the tray sides with the rails in the dash and push it back in.)

6. The only thing between you and the bulb is the plastic piece containing the PRN21. The front left corner is snapped in (pull it up). If I remember the rest of that piece is snapped in too. Pry it out. It won't slide over the shift knob, and that's OK.

7. The bulb is directly underneath where the "D" was located on the PRD21. The bulb is in a socket. You don't want to push the bulb downward because you'll push the socket out. Pull the bulb straight up and out.

Blurred picture of removed bulb. All panels removed, side mouldings spread, bulb socket visible (pulled out) at end of yellow wires.

(What wattage is the bulb? Who knows? And there are many bulbs that appear to be exactly like this one! Notice that inside the bulb, where the wires go into the filament, you'll see a BROWN glass bead. Other wattage bulbs have DIFFERENT COLORED glass beads!) NAPA charged me $3.16 for a two pack.

8. Test the replaced lamp by turning on your headlights. I'll assume it worked.

PUTTING IT BACK TOGETHER

9. Put everything back together starting with the PRN21 plastic piece. It snaps into place (with lots of lining up). Pay attention to the left front connection, making sure it's fitted correctly. It took a fair amount of maneuvering for me to get it squared up and flat.

10. Put the 2 side trim screws back under the lighter and ashtray.

11. Put the 2 screws back at the rear base of the shifter.

12. Put the console back using 2 screws up front and 2 in the rear. (Push the seats forward for access to the rear screw holes.)

13. Snap the basal back in.