went into a ditch, now can't get out of park and won't start

[wilbertd]

So there was some black ice and no spike tires and my wife slipped, did a 180 and ended up in the ditch backwards.
She was not going fast and there doesn't seem to be much damage, but when we wanted to pull the car out of the ditch I couldn't get it out of park.

Then I found out that if I pushed the 'shift lock overdrive' button I could move the stick. But only when I hold that button, as soon as I let go I cant't move it anymore and it will stay in park.

The car got towed out but then when I tried to start it, it just makes a big 'cluck' sound, as if the car is actually in gear; the starter comes out but can't turn the engine.

Any idea's on this one?
I really miss this car, now we all have to walk 20 minutes to get to our house.

(I tried adding a picture but that didn't seem to work; http://uploads.im/7rnDT.jpg)

 

[RonJR]

I'm not real familiar with automatics, but it sounds like the shift linkage under the car might have gotten bent or damaged, or the shift interlock connector got knocked off. You were probably high-centered on the edge of the ditch when the car went in, so some under body damage might have occurred. I'd have someone knowledgeable crawl under and take a look.

 

[wilbertd]

I'm not real familiar with automatics, but it sounds like the shift linkage under the car might have gotten bent or damaged, or the shift interlock connector got knocked off.

Thanks Ron, on this forum I also read that a broken breaklight fuse can cause a shifter to get stuck in Park. I was first hoping it was something like that, but all fuses seemed fine.

Do you know where I could find this shift interlock connector on the car?

 

[RonJR]

Not sure about the brake light thing. Depends on the year of your vehicle. Did it normally require your foot to be on the brake before you could take it out of park? Not sure when that "safety" feature came in.

As I said, I'm not very familiar with automatics, so I don't know where the connectors might be.

You might want to post your question over on the yotatech forum, in the proper section for your year of vehicle. Yotatech gets a lot more traffic for older vehicles, and you'll likely get more useful advice there.

 

[wilbertd]

You might want to post your question over on the yotatech forum, in the proper section for your year of vehicle. Yotatech gets a lot more traffic for older vehicles, and you'll likely get more useful advice there.

Thanks for the tip. I will do that!

 

[SaulG]

With 4 runner on its side like that you probably have oil in the cylinders..!
Pull spark plugs and try to turn engine over by hand first..:thumb: