2004 Taco, difficulty pressing shift button to get out of Park

[mattunique]

I'll be taking her to the dealer Tuesday but this problem just started happening yesterday. I was launching my boat and on the ramp no less. It was virtually impossible to press the button down to move the gear shifter out of park. It took every bit of my strength to press the button. Once this was down if moved fine. I tested it on level ground and exact same thing. I am pretty sure it's some sort of electrical malfunction.

To explain another way - it's like trying to shift the tranny out of park when you have not pressed the brake pedal. There is this locking mechanism that does not allow you to move out of park. Even when I press the brakes it's as though this locking mechanism is still engaged. I have to press extremely hard as I mentioned and it finally snaps down so I can shift. I noticed there was an electrical clicking sound when I pressed the button. So with brake pedal pressed I hit the button and I hear this clicking noise like's it's trying to do something.

Curious if anyone has any idea what this is and what caused it. I bought it brand new 11,000 miles ago so as I said it's going back to the dealer but what a pain in the as*! Especially when sitting on the boat ramp.

Thanks

--Matt

[toto]

Be sure your brake lights are still working. There's a little switch on the brake pedal that does double duty - it works the lights, and it also tells the computer it's OK to disengage the shift lock. It sounds like the pedal switch is working, but double-check to be sure.

The 2004 Prius and Lexus RX330 were recalled to replace the brake pedal switch. There were no issues reported in the U.S., but in Japan they found evidence of corrosion inside the switch that caused it to stop working properly. Maybe it's caused by moisture in the air, since Japan is an island.

[mattunique]

Of course I should have remembered the shift lock release. Pop this little plastic cover just above the shifter and then you can press this plastic lever to override the shift lock. I will still get it fixed out course but at least I know I can get moving once it's locked.

I will check my brake lights....tx

[mattunique]

Good tip dude! My brake lights are not working. Is this a fuse deal or what? I'll check my book - clearly something made them fail so I need to figure that out.

--Matt

[toto]

I don't believe it's a fuse, but I could be wrong. If you have both problems together - no brake lights and the shift lock is stuck - then the computer doesn't know you're pressing the brake pedal. I'd get to a dealer ASAP and have that brake pedal switch checked.

It's a small switch that sits near the top of the brake pedal, right under the dashboard. It's sitting such that it's normally pushed in when the pedal is not in use. As you push the pedal, the switch is allowed to come out.

[mattunique]

I found the fuse for the brake lights and it was blown. Something caused this short though....

I had a U-haul wiring harness installed the same week I bought my truck (12,000 miles ago). Yesterday I was towing my boat/trailer. I wonder if that had something to do with it?

Thanks

--Matt

[whip]

You said you were launching your boat. Did you get the wiring wet? I always disconect the trailer wires before i back down the ramp.