Gear Shifter stuck in park, Transmission

[lj4r]

I have a 2005 SR5 2wd. Overall, it runs and operates great. The transmission gear selector is stuck in park. The brake sensor works, you can hear it when the brake pedal is depressed. I used the emergency release button and was able to forcibly shift into reverse and drive. It was very hard to pull the shift handle. The transmission itself seems to work fine. It backed up in reverse and went forward in drive. The lights on the dash correctly indicated park, reverse and drive. I have tried to research the issue but haven't found anything directly on point. Someone suggested some sort of detent along the center column? Any suggestions. Thanks

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

These shifters have been known to get difficult to shift in and out of certain gears. There also could be an ignition detent in the column that could be bad.
There is a shifter release button forward and left of the PARK position that might be of some help.

 

[lj4r]

Thanks. I used the release button to get it into reverse and drive. I had to pull pretty hard on the shift handle to get it into gear. It is really strange. It was working fine and then bam.