03 Limited 4Runner (Stuck in Park?)

[md4runner]

Hey Gang...Help!

I'm having problems with my '03 Limited 4Runner...A couple of days ago, I couldn't get the truck out of Park...The truck starts fine, I put pressure on the brake and try to shift into Drive...I have an automatic transmission, and it didn't want to budge...After a couple of minutes, I slammed my foot down on the brake pedal and I was able to shift the car into drive...Then the VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, and ABS lights lit up on the dashboard...The lights went off after about a minute or two...

Has anyone had this problem?

 

[toto]

I've read other posts similar to this from time to time. Haven't seen a good answer, though.

My first thought is a problem with the brake pedal switch. There's a little switch under the dash that opens as you push the pedal; as you push the pedal toward the floor, the pedal moves away from the switch.

That switch controls everything that the computer associates with the braking action: releasing the shift lock (which is keeping you from shifting out of park), the brake lights, and the cruise control cancel.

If this happens again, see if the brake lights work when you press the pedal. If they don't, the switch is the problem. If they do, then something else is wrong.

And that funny little hole with the cover on it that's near the shifter - that's the shift lock override. So if you get stuck in this situation again, you can pry off the cover and stick a screwdriver in there to release the shifter. See your Owners' Manual for more details on that.

 

[Mark86]

It sounds like a blown fuse to me. The remote starter on my 2005 4Runner was connected wrong and it ended up blowing a main fuse while on the road. I couldn't shift out of park and was stranded. If you really need to get out, manually override the transmission (via the little door near the shifter). It is in the fuse box under the hood if I remember correctly.

 

[xUSNavy]

This happened to my fathers tacoma too. It turned out to be a bad brake bulb. If your brake lights are not working right, you will not be able to shift from Park to Drive. So check your brake lights to see if they are working. If they aren't, then check the fuses for the brakes. If the fuses are ok, then check the brake bulbs.

 

[RickyCRX]

This happened to my fathers tacoma too. It turned out to be a bad brake bulb. If your brake lights are not working right, you will not be able to shift from Park to Drive. So check your brake lights to see if they are working. If they aren't, then check the fuses for the brakes. If the fuses are ok, then check the brake bulbs.

I don't believe that. I had a brake light get loose a week or two back which caused it to not illuminate and it didn't prevent me from parking and resuming again.

This would be the most assinine design if it were true because assume the 4Runner was your only vehicle and you had a bulb blow out... How would you be able to drive yourself to the parts store to go get a replacement??

Ricky

 

[xUSNavy]

I don't believe that. I had a brake light get loose a week or two back which caused it to not illuminate and it didn't prevent me from parking and resuming again.

This would be the most assinine design if it were true because assume the 4Runner was your only vehicle and you had a bulb blow out... How would you be able to drive yourself to the parts store to go get a replacement??

Ricky

Why dont you do some research if you dont believe it. The Tacomas do not allow you to shift out of park if one of the brake bulbs are out.

With automatic transmissions, you have to step on the brake pedal to shift out of park. It is a safety interlock feature to prevent kids left in the car from accidentally shifting the car out of park when left unattended. The interlock is tied into the brake lights, so if the brake circuit is open, then the interlock will not function.

 

[toto]

I found the schematic below on Toyota TIS.
Finally... a solution to the mystery!

Normally, pressing the brake pedal will put 12 volts on the STP pin on the Shift Lock ECU.

I'm a bit surprised how many fuses are involved in this circuit. Mark86 is right on - if the Stop Lamp fuse (STOP) is burned out, then there can never be 12V on the STP pin, and it won't let you out of Park.

Note also that the brake lights are part of the circuit; xUSNavy is also correct. If the brake lights were to fail such that they created a short, then STP would be shorted to ground, and again, it wouldn't let you out of park. But if the brake light burned out and created an open circuit (which it should if the filament breaks), then things would still work.

 

[ptung07]

Wow, there are some smart people on this board! Nice find xUSNavy and toto !! Both of you actually did some research
It is good in a way that toyota designed the brake light and auto shifting that way, there are too many cars on the road in my area with brake lights burned out and they never bother to replace it.

 

[RickyCRX]

Why dont you do some research if you dont believe it. The Tacomas do not allow you to shift out of park if one of the brake bulbs are out.

With automatic transmissions, you have to step on the brake pedal to shift out of park. It is a safety interlock feature to prevent kids left in the car from accidentally shifting the car out of park when left unattended. The interlock is tied into the brake lights, so if the brake circuit is open, then the interlock will not function.

Before you go off being a jerk about it, you weren't really correct in the first place. You said if the circuit is OPEN... As in a bulb is blown out. I stated that this in fact does NOT prevent you from removing the vehicle from park. Had you stated that a SHORT in the brake light circuit would cause it not to function properly, as is the case, then I might have considered it as a possibility.

Ricky

 

[xUSNavy]

Before you go off being a jerk about it, you weren't really correct in the first place. You said if the circuit is OPEN... As in a bulb is blown out. I stated that this in fact does NOT prevent you from removing the vehicle from park. Had you stated that a SHORT in the brake light circuit would cause it not to function properly, as is the case, then I might have considered it as a possibility.

Ricky

Okay, sorry if I hurt your feelings

 

[RickyCRX]

Okay, sorry if I hurt your feelings

You didn't at all... Just pointing out that before you try to be all high and mighty, you might want to make sure you're 100% right.

Ricky

 

[xUSNavy]

You didn't at all... Just pointing out that before you try to be all high and mighty, you might want to make sure you're 100% right.

Ricky

Look asshole, I said I was sorry. You don't have to come off saying that I am trying to be all high and mighty or that I'm a jerk. How about you try to be more civilized in your replies.

 

[RickyCRX]

Look asshole, I said I was sorry. You don't have to come off saying that I am trying to be all high and mighty or that I'm a jerk. How about you try to be more civilized in your replies.

Be more civilized? You're the one that resorted to name-calling.

Mods: You might want to have a talk with this guy.

 

[xUSNavy]

Be more civilized? You're the one that resorted to name-calling.

Mods: You might want to have a talk with this guy.

You called me a jerk and I called you an asshole. As far as I am concerned, we are square.


Mods: Don't worry, this is the end of it.

 

[jharris2]

Mods: Don't worry, this is the end of it.

Thanks.

 

[HerbVick]

Hey Gang...Help!

I'm having problems with my '03 Limited 4Runner...A couple of days ago, I couldn't get the truck out of Park...The truck starts fine, I put pressure on the brake and try to shift into Drive...I have an automatic transmission, and it didn't want to budge...After a couple of minutes, I slammed my foot down on the brake pedal and I was able to shift the car into drive...Then the VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, and ABS lights lit up on the dashboard...The lights went off after about a minute or two...

Has anyone had this problem?

Well, not exactly that problem. But, here's what happened and what I learned from it.

Been driving this '04 Sport for about a week now since getting the tags. It came with 23k miles of experience with a younger man.

Short trip at lunch today and the battery light comes on. ... Uh Oh! ... Then when I get back and turn it off, I decided to try it again. Started OK, but now no battery light, but VSC TRAC, VSC OFF and ABS warnings all lit, and the radio is dead and I can't shift out of PARK! (PANIC! ... no, not yet)

Started checking fuses. Has to be sensor related. It's starting to rain, too. All fuses inside look good. Goes outside and removes cover from fuse box. There I see that one fuse has been smashed from the top and the 2 inner metal prongs have been beat down together so that they touch. Further investigation revealed that this was indeed the 140A Alt main.

I had no spare 140A fuse. I needed to re-establish the previous moron's temporary solution, thereby continuing the legacy. I had to beat on the already bent metal prongs some more to re-establish a good connection, which cleared all the warning lights and let me get out of park. The CD player was now working too.

Decided to make the drive to the nearest Toyota dealer's parts department. It was about 10 miles away in heavy stop and go, sprinkeled with rain. They didn't have one. I soon learned that the auto parts places don't have them either. I also learned that my temporary fix was more temporary than I thought. The battery light had come on again before I reached the second auto parts place. When I tried to leave, my shifter was now stuck in PARK.

Kill the engine; Pop the hood and fuse box lid; tap...tap...tap; Fire it up; Warning lights OK? (OK.); Button up & go.

That is where I stand now. Can't order a new fuse until Monday. Can't have a dependable rig until the fuse arrives ... whenever!

I didn't mean to hyjack your thread, but it looks to me like we may have a similar (not the same, but similar) problem. I hope this information helps you solve your mystery before you end up under the hood in the middle of nowhere in the rain.

 

[Mark86]

Re: Re: 03 Limited 4Runner (Stuck in Park?)

Well, not exactly that problem. But, here's what happened and what I learned from it.

Been driving this '04 Sport for about a week now since getting the tags. It came with 23k miles of experience with a younger man.

Short trip at lunch today and the battery light comes on. ... Uh Oh! ... Then when I get back and turn it off, I decided to try it again. Started OK, but now no battery light, but VSC TRAC, VSC OFF and ABS warnings all lit, and the radio is dead and I can't shift out of PARK! (PANIC! ... no, not yet)

Started checking fuses. Has to be sensor related. It's starting to rain, too. All fuses inside look good. Goes outside and removes cover from fuse box. There I see that one fuse has been smashed from the top and the 2 inner metal prongs have been beat down together so that they touch. Further investigation revealed that this was indeed the 140A Alt main.

I had no spare 140A fuse. I needed to re-establish the previous moron's temporary solution, thereby continuing the legacy. I had to beat on the already bent metal prongs some more to re-establish a good connection, which cleared all the warning lights and let me get out of park. The CD player was now working too.

Decided to make the drive to the nearest Toyota dealer's parts department. It was about 10 miles away in heavy stop and go, sprinkeled with rain. They didn't have one. I soon learned that the auto parts places don't have them either. I also learned that my temporary fix was more temporary than I thought. The battery light had come on again before I reached the second auto parts place. When I tried to leave, my shifter was now stuck in PARK.

Kill the engine; Pop the hood and fuse box lid; tap...tap...tap; Fire it up; Warning lights OK? (OK.); Button up & go.

That is where I stand now. Can't order a new fuse until Monday. Can't have a dependable rig until the fuse arrives ... whenever!

I didn't mean to hyjack your thread, but it looks to me like we may have a similar (not the same, but similar) problem. I hope this information helps you solve your mystery before you end up under the hood in the middle of nowhere in the rain.

Did you try the parts department of a Lexus dealer? They use the same fuses on a GX470.

 

[HerbVick]

Re: Re: Re: 03 Limited 4Runner (Stuck in Park?)

Did you try the parts department of a Lexus dealer? They use the same fuses on a GX470.

Thanks. No, I didn't. This all happened on Friday right about quitting time at work. No time to 4Run the wide area networking for parts. But, I'm glad you mentioned it though. I hadn't even thought of that.

I guess Monday at work I'll be Google Mapping Toyota and Lexus dealers and taking a phone poll.

Funny story ... well not funny HA HA, but in an ironic told you so kinda way. While I was at the Toyota dealer, in a somewhat kneejerk reaction to the circumstances surrounding the fuse, I decided to just put my recently purchased 4Runner in their certified professional hands for a 15K mile once over, just for the peace of mind. Sat down with one of their Service Consultants, explained the story and asked for an appointment for a 15K mile checkup. Well, after a little friendly giggling and blushing and tapping on her keyboard, I was scheduled for 7:30 am Monday morning. The charge was only going to be around $160. Not a princely sum. I noticed it, but simply assumed there was a LOT of service done for the amount. I got home and checked the Scheduled Maintenance Guide. I was paying $160 basically for an oil change and rotate the tires. Sure, they were going to "inspect" things, but even in their own advertisement, most of that was complementary just like it is almost anywhere else. NOW I know why you guys have been calling them Stealerships!

Do you think I should cancel and let the professionals at Quality Care do it for around $50?

 

[HerbVick]

Fuse Problem!

Moved my discussion to a new thread.

 

[tschwart]

VSC OFF, VSC TRAC & ABS Lights - Problem Solved!!

Wow! You guys (espicially toto) sure nailed it and saved me a big $$ trip to the dealership.

I was driving earlier today when the VSC OFF, VSC TRAC & ABS Lights all came on simultaneously. I stopped my 2002 4Runner Limited in a nearby parking lot, put it in park and set out to investigate. Not seeing anything obvious, I tried to move the transmission shifter out of park and back to drive - but presto, it was locked in park.

I overrode the transmission lock, headed home and hit the forums for info.

As toto correctly identified, if the STOP fuse has fails open, the shift lock control ECU prevents the shifter being moved out of park.

So, I checked the fuse, found it was blown, replaced it and started her up again.. All of the annunciator lights cleared, and things were back to normal. Wohoo!!

The root cause of the problem (Why did the fuse fail?) is still unknown.. Hopefully it just resides somehow with the fuse itself.

Anyways, thanks again guys!!