Shifter stuck in park No brake lights 99 Corolla

The shifter in my daughters 99 corolla is stuck in park. Also no brake
lights. Replaced all bulbs. I replaced the stop light switch on the brake
pedal thinking that was the problem but still no brake lights. Has power to
the switch. Fuse behind the dash kick panel is ok. Don't see any
breaks/worn wires in trunk area. All bulb sockets seem to be fine. Pulled
out the shift lock solenoid (yea what a fun job that is) in the center
console. Don't know if it is good or bad. Local dealer wants 220 dollars
for a new one. Anyone have any ideas? Is a real stumper for me.

A while back car was having a weird electrical problem that seemed to
correct itself. The high beam indicator on the dash would flash on and off
when driving. Could hear the headlight relay under the hood clicking when
it would occur. And occationally the headlights/running lights would stay
on after the car was turned off. These problems haven't happened for a
while now but with my luck lately it's probably all related. Thanks for any
sugestions.

Look to the brake light circuit. Your symptoms are a classic description of
a bad stop switch, which you said you already replaced. The car needs to
see that your foot is on the brake to let you shift out of park, and if
you have no brake lights, your car doesn't know your foot is on the brake.
Verify the stop light switch you replaced is good and adjusted properly. I
know you said you have power to the switch, but you should also verify
that you have ground.

On Sun, 08 Jan 2006 04:17:01 -0000, rogplayer <rg@xcite.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
>The shifter in my daughters 99 corolla is stuck in park. Also no brake
>lights. Replaced all bulbs. I replaced the stop light switch on the brake
>pedal thinking that was the problem but still no brake lights. Has power to
>the switch. Fuse behind the dash kick panel is ok. Don't see any
>breaks/worn wires in trunk area. All bulb sockets seem to be fine. Pulled
>out the shift lock solenoid (yea what a fun job that is) in the center
>console. Don't know if it is good or bad. Local dealer wants 220 dollars
>for a new one. Anyone have any ideas? Is a real stumper for me.
>
>A while back car was having a weird electrical problem that seemed to
>correct itself. The high beam indicator on the dash would flash on and off
>when driving. Could hear the headlight relay under the hood clicking when
>it would occur. And occationally the headlights/running lights would stay
>on after the car was turned off. These problems haven't happened for a
>while now but with my luck lately it's probably all related. Thanks for any
>sugestions.[/color]

Like QSlim said, it's the stoplight circuit - there's a lock
solenoid actuated by the brakelight power so you have to have your
foot on the brake to shift out of Park, and with the brakelight
circuit out the solenoid is not actuating.

Read the Owner's Manual. There is a place to pop a trim cover on
the center console and push in a pin to push the latch solenoid open
and manually unlock the shifter. So you can CAREFULLY drive the car
to the mechanic and avoid a tow bill.

Remember to open the window and hand-signal you are stopping - arm
down. (That's why they still cover hand signals in Drivers' Ed. Some
people actually manage to stay awake during that part...)

--<< Bruce >>--

--
Bruce L. Bergman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles) CA - Desktop
Electrician for Westend Electric - CA726700
5737 Kanan Rd. #359, Agoura CA 91301 (818) 889-9545
Spamtrapped address: Remove the python and the invalid, and use a net.

I will take a look at the brake light circuit a little closer. I was
thinking that maybe the shift lock solenoid was not allowing the brake
light circuit to complete, hence thats why I removed it. Thanks for your
imput. I really do appreciate it..



[color=blue]
> Look to the brake light circuit. Your symptoms are a classic
> description of a bad stop switch, which you said you already replaced.
> The car needs to see that your foot is on the brake to let you shift
> out of park, and if you have no brake lights, your car doesn't know
> your foot is on the brake. Verify the stop light switch you replaced
> is good and adjusted properly. I know you said you have power to the
> switch, but you should also verify that you have ground.
>
>[/color]

Just a follow up. Found the problem. Someone had spliced the wiring at
the fuse block and did a poor job at it. Redid and now there is brake
lights. Thanks agian for your responses.



[color=blue]
> I will take a look at the brake light circuit a little closer. I was
> thinking that maybe the shift lock solenoid was not allowing the brake
> light circuit to complete, hence thats why I removed it. Thanks for
> your imput. I really do appreciate it..
>[color=green]
>>
>> Look to the brake light circuit. Your symptoms are a classic
>> description of a bad stop switch, which you said you already
>> replaced. The car needs to see that your foot is on the brake to let
>> you shift out of park, and if you have no brake lights, your car
>> doesn't know your foot is on the brake. Verify the stop light switch
>> you replaced is good and adjusted properly. I know you said you have
>> power to the switch, but you should also verify that you have ground.
>>[/color][/color]