☰
GET A QUOTE

Q: I have a 2007 Nissan Sentra. Today I stupidly put my car in park while going about 7 miles per hour.

asked by on September 12, 2017

I have a 2007 Nissan Sentra. Today I stupidly put my car in PARK while going about 7mph coming to a full stop. The sound that came out of the car was not horrible, it sounded exactly how it sounds to grind the gears of a manual transmission car. Either way though I freaked out because I just bought my car and I don't want my mistake to kill my car. My question is, should I worry? The car seems fine, no smells or weird noises, no engine light on. I also put my car in park on a hill afterwards to see if the pin would have been broken in the incident, however it seemed fine and did not budge. I always put up my E-brake when parked as well. I'm not sure if I should get my car checked out reguardless of anything seemingly being wrong..

My car has 64000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Recommended Services

Car is not shifting into park Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote
Or For Any Other Auto Repairs Get a Quote

Yea, that was a pretty big goof! Just don’t do it again. Everybody gets in a hurry and makes that mistake sometime and your car can probably handle it a few times, but when it’s too much, the parking pawl will break and the car won’t stay stationary in park anymore. There isn’t much point in trying to check it out because the parts that are affected are deep in the transmission so the transmission would have to be removed and disassembled to check their condition. Your best move is to not rely on the parking pawl entirely but to be sure to set the parking brake when you park the car. when you are ready to go, put the car in drive before you release the parking brake, that keeps you from stressing the parking pawl. If you have any trouble getting the car into park in the future, you can contact YourMechanic. They can send a technician to your home or office to check out our Nissan and let you know what is the solution.

Nissan
Sentra
2007
L4-2.0L
automatic transmission
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Fuel door stuck.
How do you open your fuel door? Is there a button that pops it open or to you pull a lever? It is possible that there may be a problem with the switch or cable that opens your fuel door....
Read more
Car misfires while idling
If you think your car is misfiring, you should have a Check Engine light up on the dash. If you have a Check Engine light, start by having the vehicle scanned for trouble codes (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/check-engine-light-is-on-inspection). If any cylinder is misfiring,...
Read more
Transmission won't shift gears
Hi there, thanks for writing in. There are multiple causes of an automatic transmission that won't shift properly. Failed shift solenoids can cause this condition, but unless the problem was properly diagnosed, it's possible that it was a guess. It...
Read more
Can I go to a trip through the state with the following problems with my car?
You should ask the shop that gave you the estimate since they quoted you to replace the transaxle. The transaxle problem may be something that could leave you stranded and cost thousands of dollars to replace this part. The car...
Read more
If the RX450h I bought on 10/7 needs a new left front Axle, should I be ok with that repair? or use the Lemon Law?
Hi and thanks for your input on your vehicle. When you hear a thunk sound coming from the front of the vehicle, you need to determine if the sound occurs anytime or if the sound only occurs when braking and...
Read more
What manual transmissions will fit in my car?
Hello. Unfortunately there are really no other transmissions available that will fit into your vehicle and still have everything else work properly. If you tried putting one of the transmissions prior to this one then the axles are not going...
Read more
wipers don't respond to my commands. goes on highest speed and doesn't stop unless fuse is out
Hello, thank you for writing in. The issue is very likely a fault with the wiper switch. While there can be some electrical testing done to verify this, the switches are known to go bad after being used for that...
Read more
How can I check my ac compressor wiring connections
The first thing to do is go where the damage is. If a wiring harness has been struck by the serpentine belt, then you will have to open the harness and look for physical damage. That may mean that one...
Read more
Hi i started my van this morning it was fine last night. And now it sound like a tractor it a Vauxhall vivaro its still running fi
You should check the oil levels in the engine first to see if it is low. If not low then check gauges to see if any oil pressure loss or other lights are on? If any lights are on then...
Read more

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Nissan Rogue
While While the Honda CR-V and the Toyota RAV4 generally get the most attention in the crossover utility vehicle (CUV) class, buyers should take a look at the 2012 Nissan Rogue. The second-smallest model in Nissan’s line of SUVs and...
Read more
2012 Nissan Rogue vs. 2012 Ford Escape: Which One Should I Buy?
Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) use the chassis of a truck to provide superior structure, with a larger size and often poor gas mileage. While that isn’t always true, SUVs have a raised ground clearance and are generally meant to haul...
Read more
The Top 5 Selling Cars in Florida in 2012
Florida Florida offers great weather year round, and the fact that snow and ice never factor into the equation means drivers don’t have to focus on the overall vehicle handling as they do in other states. The best selling cars...
Read more

Browse other content

Cars
Estimates
Services
Maintenance