1990 Camry DX automatic trans difficult to shift out of park

[Camry215K]

Hi folks:

I've got a 1990 Camry DX, automatic transmission, with about 235,700 miles. Recently the car has gotten where it is extremely difficult to get it to shift out of park. The button on the side of the shifter won't go in and it won't move out of park. If I keep working with it, pressing and releasing the button and slightly wiggling the shifter, eventually the button will go in and it will come out of park. Once it is out of park and in reverse or drive, it does just fine and will move between any of the positions with no problem, it's just a real booger-bear trying to get it out of park. I saw some mention of the brake light switch on the brake pedal in another thread, but my brake lights ARE working. I would appreciate any advice on where to look to try and fix this. I have used the override button to get it out when I was in a hurry, but wasn't sure about continuing that on a long term basis and besides, I'd like to get it back to working correctly if I can.

[Doctor J]

The problem you have could be due to the stuck shift lock lever (solenoid operated ) located inside the console, right next to the base of shifter
On this past weekend I repaired the same thing on 98 Mazda Protégé. The lever got stuck due to the dried out "Doctor Pepper "spilled into the console long time ago.
Once you take the console apart, you may restore the operation of the system by cleaning and greasing the bushing for the lever