tranny stuck in park

[tomcat]

just got my first 4 runner(1996) ,ben sittin for over a year ,went to pick it up with my trailer and it won't shift out of park. so does it have to have a good battery or is the linkage messed up/stuck,?? thanx from a newbee

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

It has a shift interlock but I'm not exactly sure how it goes about working: electrical or mechanical. It requires you to press the brake before shifting, hope its something simple.

 

[ki1022]

just got my first 4 runner(1996) ,ben sittin for over a year ,went to pick it up with my trailer and it won't shift out of park. so does it have to have a good battery or is the linkage messed up/stuck,?? thanx from a newbee

There is an override switch that lets you shift the transmission without your foot on the brake, key in ignition, etc. There is a little plastic clip/slot thing above the "P" for park. Stick a key or a screwdriver in there and you should be able to shift to any gear you want. This might at least just help you get going. Sometimes I use this park in neutral in the city when I am afraid someone is going to bump me and possibly damage my transmission if I were normally in park.

 

[Whitson Metalworks]

Lol, I never what that thing was for, great info!

 

[t4r4life]

just got my first 4 runner(1996) ,ben sittin for over a year ,went to pick it up with my trailer and it won't shift out of park. so does it have to have a good battery or is the linkage messed up/stuck,?? thanx from a newbee

check your fuse for brake lights, when the brake light fuse pops the truck locks the truck in parks for safety.

 

[tomcat]

thanx for the info, gonna go check it out ,, thanx tomcat

 

[86SupraMKII]

thanx for the info, gonna go check it out ,, thanx tomcat

If you can't get it out of park and just need to winch it on a trailer or roll it you could always bypass the transmission and switch the 4WD to the Neutral position. You'll be free rolling then for sure... if your Runner is 4WD that is.

 

[Qyota]

My truck didn't want to move from park this morning. Had to use the bypass switch. Got to work, put it in park, and trying to bring it back out...no go.

So - what are the first things to check? Brake light fuse? Pedal switch?

 

[Qyota]

Stop fuse was blown. Hopefully it was just old. Replaced it, and all is good again.