Stuck in park - shift lock override? Shift lock soleniod?

[Joel]

Howdy folks,

I hope you can help me. I am sitting in my 97 Previa AT, and I can't get it to shift out of park. The van comes on fine, the brake light works, the fan and lights all work, and all the fuses seem fine upon visual inspection. However, once the van is started up and the brake pedal depressed, I can't shift it out of Park.

The internet is full of "shift lock override" advice, but 1) I haven't seen a howto of a Toyota with the shifter on the steering column and 2) I can't find a visual of what the solenoid looks like. Because I am kinda stranded, and have no way to tow the van to a mechanic, I am trying to figure out a way to disengage the shift lock. Any ideas? I have already

inspected and reseated all of the fuses in the dash
removed the metal plate below the steering column
had some strong guys push the back of the van while I tried to shift it out of Park
had the same guys verify for me that the brake lights went on when I hit the brake pedal.

Any ideas? My fingers are crossed.

[originalkwyjibo]

Have you tried starting it in neutral?
Below is a steering column parts diagram for '97-'00 Toyota Tacoma. The squareish plug on the top of the steering column trim labeled "33554E" in the diagram is a cap for the shift lock override. Does your Previa have anything like this. I don't own a Previa or a Tacoma but presumably there is something under this cap to press with a suitable tool. Whatever that may be.
http://images.factoryoemparts.com/media-photos/3350204010e0-1997-2000-toyota-tacoma-shift-lock-override-trim-tab-new-oak-brown-3350204010e0-4.jpeg

[Joel]

Thanks for your reply. I don't have that button at all, it turns out. I discovered a lot of things about shift locking in Toyota vehicles - I feel like my first real contribution to this forum will be to write it up.

There are three different methods that Toyota has used to implement shift lock over the years; they are documented in this PDF (http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/h18.pdf). The Tacoma exploded diagram you posted seems to indicate that it is of the electro-mechanical variety; my Previa has a mechanical shift lock. So I don't have a shift lock override button, I think.

It didn't matter, in the end - what I wound up doing was ripping the plastic cover off and detaching the shift cable from the shift lever. I could then shift it into gear by pushing and pulling directly on the metal-loop end of the shift cable. I drove the van home, and the next morning I grabbed the shift lever, and it was able to move again. I suspect that the locking pin in the diagram on the last page of that PDF was jammed or stuck, and the vibration of driving home shook it loose.

So: the problem solved itself, more or less. I expect that it will crop up again someday, so I am preparing to figure out how to service the entire shifting mechanism, or to find a replacement. (A helpful fella on Fixya suggested opening up the whole thing and lubricating with lithium grease, but I will save that project for a few days where I don't need to drive anywhere.)

Lastly: Toyota Vans do seem to use the electro-mech shift lock, and so I suspect they in fact do have a shift lock mechanism.