AMIRZA786

Today without any warning, my transmission is stuck in park. To get it out of park and into gear I have to press down on the transmission unlock button with a pen or screwdriver. Everything is fine until I put it back in park, then it's stuck again. No codes, everything is normal when driving. I've tried restarting the car, but now it won't go out of park without the using the unlock button. Any ideas?

ncatona

im at a loss on this.... any older threads on this issue?

AMIRZA786

I Googled the issue, It's all very general information, nothing helpful. Basically the kitchen sink type of responses. I'll take it to my mechanic on Monday

BabyGate

If you can't move shifter out of P while foot on brake, the shift lock solenoid or shift lock control ECU is probably bad. Since you can start the car, that rules out bad brake switch.

AMIRZA786

Thanks for the response. I think I ruled that out already as I read that the brake lights would not work if the brake switch went bad. Everything seems to work fine, brake lights work, the only issue is can't get it out of park without hitting the manual unlock button. My mechanic should be able to diagnose the issue on Monday

jizz4jazz

iTrader: (1)

Battery ok? Make sure connections are tight.

AMIRZA786

Battery is new, only maybe 4 or 5 months old. Connections are all tight

AMIRZA786

LOL problem went away as fast as it came. I stopped at Costco for gas, after filling up it suddenly started shifting out of park without having to use the shift lock button. It's funny, I read this exact issue someone was having with their ES, and then it went away, just like that. Vanished like Keyser Soze. I'll monitor it and if it comes back I will take it to my mechanic. Go figure...

Petet

Electrical problems that go away are near impossible to diagnose. The issue will be back some day, they usually always do. At least you won’t be stuck anywhere due to the button.

AMIRZA786

I'm going to definitely get it checked maybe in a couple weeks. I don't really have an issue with it as the easy fix is to use the transmission unlock, but if my wife or daughter borrows my car and it happens that could be an issue. Trying to explain how to unlock it would be a task in itself. Once my son was playing around with my daughters car and dimmed the dash lights to the point they were off. I was out of town, and It took me 15 minutes on the phone with her and my wife trying to guide them to turn them back up. It was so mentally exhausting I needed valium afterwards...

Gville350

iTrader: (10)

This happened with my brother's TL auto trans. But his issue never fixed itself. He had to use the "override" button constantly.

AMIRZA786

Well that sucks. For your brother at least. So far the issue hasn't come back, but I'm getting it checked anyway. When I told my mechanic he told me that it was either the brake switch or Shift lock solenoid. I think Brake switch has pretty much been ruled out

AMIRZA786

You jinxed me! Came back today. Sigh 😔

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

Shift solenoid, Brake switch, Ignition switch.?

AMIRZA786

Most likely the shift solenoid. Luckily this is only a minor inconvenience. I keep a plastic spoon in the door storage to unlock the shifter 😂