debrajane

When I came home last night, I couldn't get the shifter all the way into park, but I was able to turn off the car. Now today, the car won't start. Battery is fine. Is this a fatal transmission failure? (1999 RX 300 with about 84,000 miles; all maintenance up to date and no other problems)

carguy07

Can you put it in neutral?

hypervish

No, it doesn't sound like transmission failure. It seems to me that one of your mounts is bad, and or your shift interlock is not disabling.

debrajane

Carguy - Nope. Can't move the gear shift at all. (Sorry - I should have given more detail in my initial post.) Looks like my only remedy at this point is to have it towed to mechanic in the morning.

carguy07

Try releasing the shift interlock and see what happens. I think you can just shove a key in it.

salimshah

The inter-lock release by inserting a screw driver/key in the rectangular slot should free the key to be moved to start/run. .. this should take debrajane to the same situation before the RX was turned off. I am not sure if the gear shifter would free up. My hunch is that the shift linkage is messed up. Was any work done underneath the RX around the transmission?


Salim

debrajane

Thanks for your responses. No work has been done on the car for at least 4 months. No obvious leaks. I have no idea where the interlock release is. The car is parked in a safe and easily accessible place, so I'm opting for a tow in the morning and hoping for an easy fix. I'll post any news tomorrow.

carguy07

The good news is that it probably has nothing to do with the transmission itself. More likely in the shifter, Park Neutral Safety Switch, Shift Interlock, Brake Light Switch, etc.