Shifter Locked in Park

[TOPDECK]

So, I am driving home from my office today and I notice that the ABS light is on. Then I look over to the other side and the traction control light is on and the "terrain select" light is blinking. I arrive at a stop light and decide to put it in park and restart the car.

Bad move...

The car started back up, but to my horror it would not shift into gear. All the lights on the dash were still on, and the shifter was locked in park. The feeling of knowing the light is about to turn green and your car won't move is like being trapped under ice. I hate that feeling.

Anyway, I called Toyota road side assistance and had them send a truck. In the meantime a sheriff came and we got the shifter bypassed and I was able to get it off the road.

It was towed to the dealer, but since it was after hours I won't know anything till tomorrow.

Any ideas on what it could be? I have had some electrical / computer problems with the truck in the past....that and all the other regular stuff (new drive shaft, loose wheel well plastic. etc)

 

[harper7]

So, I am driving home from my office today and I notice that the ABS light is on. Then I look over to the other side and the traction control light is on and the "terrain select" light is blinking. I arrive at a stop light and decide to put it in park and restart the car.

Bad move...

The car started back up, but to my horror it would not shift into gear. All the lights on the dash were still on, and the shifter was locked in park. The feeling of knowing the light is about to turn green and your car won't move is like being trapped under ice. I hate that feeling.

Anyway, I called Toyota road side assistance and had them send a truck. In the meantime a sheriff came and we got the shifter bypassed and I was able to get it off the road.

It was towed to the dealer, but since it was after hours I won't know anything till tomorrow.

Any ideas on what it could be? I have had some electrical / computer problems with the truck in the past....that and all the other regular stuff (new drive shaft, loose wheel well plastic. etc)

Most likely brake pedal switch but could be ABS ECU or ABS unit itself. Can't shift out of park without foot on brake pedal so if the switch is bad it doesn't know you are pressing on the brake, thus it won't shift out of park. Unless ......you use the override switch which is under a little square piece of plastic on the center console.
Did you have brakes after you bypassed it?

 

[TOPDECK]

The breaks were really grabby and felt different than normal. The lights came on before I stopped, and didn't notice the breaks till after I got it rolling.

I used the override under the cap to bypass the shifter.

I would say it was just a break pedal switch, but the traction control lights and the terrain select lights were on.

 

[harper7]

The breaks were really grabby and felt different than normal. The lights came on before I stopped, and didn't notice the breaks till after I got it rolling.

I used the override under the cap to bypass the shifter.

I would say it was just a break pedal switch, but the traction control lights and the terrain select lights were on.

I would guess it's the ABS Control module or the ABS ECU then. DTC codes from the OBDII will pinpoint the problem.

 

[TOPDECK]

I would guess it's the ABS Control module or the ABS ECU then. DTC codes from the OBDII will pinpoint the problem.

Thanks Harper!

 

[ZO6_Vette]

The ABS and TC lights may be caused by a bad wheel speed sensor.
IF the computer does not receive a signal from the wheel speed sensors it will shut down the ABS and TC.

The shifter should be a totally unrelated issue.

 

[phillyd2]

Check the shift lock system too!

 

[TOPDECK]

It has been at the dealer since last night, and they still have not been able to figure out whats wrong with it. It was giving a code for the break pedal sensor, but the guy said it was probably something else as well.

There are electrical gremlins in this truck for sure. The headlights behave strangely as well.

 

[DannyLlama]

It has been at the dealer since last night, and they still have not been able to figure out whats wrong with it. It was giving a code for the break pedal sensor, but the guy said it was probably something else as well.

There are electrical gremlins in this truck for sure. The headlights behave strangely as well.

DO you have a dual battery configuration or heave electric output?

 

[TOPDECK]

No, no dual battery.

The techs can't figure it out I guess. They were on the phone with Toyota today trying to get to the bottom of it all. The thing is, they can't release the truck back to me until they can fix and recreate the problem so they can be sure that it won't happen again. Especially while the vehicle is in motion.

So I am driving a Camry hybrid in the meantime. uke: This has to be the worst car I have ever driven. It has 200 miles on it and the front drivers side speaker is either defective or blown so it crackles like crazy if you have the radio on. Also because the engine shuts down at stop lights, it hesitates when you get on the accelerator when the light turns green. It feels like the gas engine starting back up. So it always feels like it is about to die.

If you have ever driven a total piece of crap car in your life, then you know the anxiety that goes along with it. That anxious feeling when it shudders a just a bit...that is what this car does. A 100% total grade A piece of junk. Even the inside feels like garbage.

I was raised in a Toyota family, and this whole thing is a real let down.

 

[Quentin]

Start/stop tech is coming to more and more vehicles. Camry Hybrid drivetrain is awesome if you push it out of your mind that the car has to sit there running at the stop light. The electric motor gets you moving initially, so yes, the gas engine is going to have a delayed start. It is a high 7, low 8 0-60 while returning 40mpg.

I agree the speakers aren't good in the non-JBL model.

 

[MeBe4running]

Geez what a pain, sorry to hear about this. I personally can't wrap my head around to what it could be? Make sure though EVERY fuse is checked and checked again, seems obvious but sometimes its sometimes the obvious that's overlooked.

Keep us posted and funny blurb about the Camry, good luck!

 

[mikebontoft]

I bet there's a common connector to all those systems somewhere. You mentioned having electrical problems in the past... do you remember what?

 

[agjake01]

So I just had this happen to me this morning.

I pulled in to a parking spot on the way in to work, put the 4R in (Park) and hopped out with the engine running, I then got back in and tried to shift to (Drive) when I experienced the same issue. The traction control light and the ABS light were one and the shifter would not shift out of (Park). Needless to say I freaked out as I was on the way to work...

I turned the engine on and off a couple of times without any success and then eventually pumped the brakes pretty quick and then the ABS and TC light kicked off. Shifter moved right over at this point.

Good to know the override is on the center console! Some of the other threads for older gen 4Rs said this could be a faulty brake switch under the steering column?

Let me know what the shop says! Thanks

 

[TOPDECK]

Got the truck back. It was the brake sensor. They did a zero point calibration and other tests and that is all they could find, so they released the truck.

Glad everything turned out okay, it was just frustrating. I wonder what will break next! :hungry:

 

[j_shoe99]

Good to know the override is on the center console!

Any chance we could get a photo of this location? Thanks in advance.

 

[ShooterF16]

This just happened to me tonight, approximately 6 hours after my seat heater switch decided to quit working. I assume and hope the two are not related. I tried pumping the brakes a few times, turn it off/on, etc. but ultimately ended up using the shift override to drive it home. The ABS and stability control lights remain on.

I already made an appointment at the dealer for the seat heater so I guess I'll just add this onto it. I hope they can fix both quickly since I'm supposed to take it on a week long ski trip this Friday.

 

[raptore]

Awaiting delivery of a new 4R, but at the moment I have a F-150 and had to learn the hard way about where, and how to access the shift-lock override switch. Can't get it out of park without pushing it and the forum members pointed to a solenoid issue. I haven't fixed it as it serves as a cheap security system.

I second j_shoe99's request if anyone has pictures and how to access the override switch.

 

[Eagle]

I borrowed this picture from this post by [MENTION=13878]GrantK[/MENTION]. The shift override is underneath the square you see above the [P] and to the left of the shift knob. That square is the cover for the shift override. Pop it off with something thin and flat and press the override.

 

[raptore]

Wow, that is very simple compared to my F150. I must pop the entire shifter/console cover off enough to use my finger to reach about 1-2 inches down (on the side between P and R) to reach the button. My wife's previous Subaru was similar but the cover was much smaller.