russellcframe

Hey all.

I'm facing a strange problem tonight. I just hauled a trailer load of brush to the back of my property and dumped it off. Came back parked the '95 4Runner and filled the trailer back up. Started it back up but can't shift out of park. When I push down on the shifter button I can hear what sounds like a solenoid clicking behind the steering wheel. It will not let me move the shifting lever. I don't have a clue. I looked in the fuse box but dont see anything labelled for the transmission.

As it is I can't move the truck.

Help???

kford

was it parked on a hill? if there's too much pressure on the park brake w/o the hand/emergency brake on, it can make it hard to shift out. Try rocking it. but the clicking sounds like something completely different so i bet i'm wrong, but here's a bump anyways.

rimpainter.com

There should be a release on the shifter column. You should be able to push a key in the hole and depress the release. It should then come out of park.

User 051420

I had a similar problem.. IT was when my rear trailer harness shorted and blew the brake light fuse. Fixed the wire, and changed the fuse...no problems since.

Marc P

Yeah, check to make sure you have brake lights. If not, turn the key to acc, put the shifter in neutral, and start the truck-then you can drive to get the brake lights fixed!!

russellcframe

You guys are too smart!

Both <96 Runner> and gapguy were right.

Turns out my brake lights aren't working.

Also found the shifter release button on the console...so at least I can move it now

Thanks all!

User 051420

Check the wiring harness..chances are that one of the wires is cut and possibly grounding.

I had this happen to me a few weeks ago....scared me to death

EDIT:
Check that fuse first

KING

Had this happen to me a while back.

Turns out the $300 solenoid wasn't functioning on its own.

I fixed it by placing something so it would not lock, problem solved.

Never have had the problem again.

Mulkey

Had the same thing happen a couple of months ago after towing my boat. There was a problem with the trailer lights (to much saltwater) and this blew the fuse that controlled the brake lights. Wouldn't shift. If there would have been a camara on me during the first ten minutes- it would have been priceless.

russellcframe

So I've confirmed that the trailer is shorting out the brake fuse.

I just replaced the entire trailer light system two weeks ago with a boxed set of lights/wires/harness. So it's not corrosion. I spot checked the wires for cuts and wears but don't see any. It was working fine for the last two weeks. I've used it several times with all the lights functioning.

So, I'm hoping someone can give me some extra troubleshooting ideas to figure out where the short is in the trailer lights?

Thanks again for all of your help.

-Russ

WT

I would suggest a Meter (meter is your friend) or test light and start to test each pin to be sure its not grounded to the trailer, may want to check each bulb too just to be sure its not the light sockets. May also want to check to be sure its not your wireing harness from the truck also with the meter should be a ground and a +12V for when you brake or have the turn signal on the +12 should pulse.
Good Luck

User 051420

If you can't find the short, I'd say ripping it apart and bringing that box set back and get a new one. Much easier than re-wiring everything.

It's possible that it's just the connector, is it the flat or round style?

I also agree that the meter is your best bet for finding the problem.