Had to go pick up a salvage car for my son yesterday to fix his Neon. He drove through a puddle in the recent heavy rains and bent a rod (don't ask). Rented a dolley and on our way to get it (dolley empty) we made a stop. When we came back out I could not get my 01 taco out of park. After a little work, was able to get it in gear and only used neutral the rest of the way up.

When we got where we were going, I decided toi risk it, and it appeared to work right with one exception. Now I can not turn the key all the way off which means I can not take the key out of the ignition. Anyone else run into this? Transmission? Shifter? Linkage?

 

maybe the shifter.

there's a white plastic linkage that will push a switch just infront of the shifter. try shifting back and forth a few times. if it doesn't work, open the upper console panel and check if the plastic linkage is engaging properly when the shifter is moved.

hth

 

See if you have a brake light out or a blown fuse. If the light is out, the transmission wont let it out of park because of some safety switch. It happened to my dad in his FJ80. If you were towing, a short in the trailer wiring could have caused a brake light to blow.

It sounds simple, but you should check before looking for more complex problems.

 

Bob and Roy, thanks,

Roy, I am sure that is now the problem because what ray described is exactly what happened but I did not relate the two at the time.

I am hoping when I got it into gear PRIOR to fixing the fuse I only damages the switch (plastic) and not something in the tranny.

Thanks guys.

 

Parts guy is clueless so...until I get in there to take a look, I won't know what possible parts I need.

There goes my evening in front of the TV.