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'04 Won't Disengage out of Park...

Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by ianfamous, May 2, 2016.

  1. May 2, 2016 at 9:16 AM
    #1
    ianfamous

    ianfamous [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    May 2, 2016
    Member:
    #1966
    Messages:
    2
    Vehicle:
    '04 Black Limited
    Hey everyone. First time poster. My 2004 Limited 4runner has recently started having issues with disengaging the automatic transmission lever out of park upon starting up. When pressing the brake to change gear to Reverse or Drive, the lever simply moves right and gets stuck before it can pull backwards into another gear. Started sporadically happening a few months ago, and has become increasingly worse in recent weeks, to the point where I can't really drive it. Spent 20 minutes the other day fiddling with it, and ended up just walking to work because i couldn't get it to work. Clearly theres a communication issue between the brake pedal and the transmission gate, but I thought perhaps some other 4th Gen owners might've had this or similar issues and could lead me in the right direction before I pay someone to fix it for me. Any ideas? Thanks so much!
     
    mrseth likes this.
  2. May 2, 2016 at 12:23 PM
    #2
    RonT4R

    RonT4R New Member

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    Ron
    Virginia Beach
    Vehicle:
    2007 4runner SR5 4WD
    I have the factory manuals at home, I will look and see if there is a switch. When you get it in gear does it drive and shift fine?
     
  3. May 2, 2016 at 1:52 PM
    #3
    ianfamous

    ianfamous [OP] New Member

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    Member:
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    Vehicle:
    '04 Black Limited
    Thanks for the reply! Yes, the car starts up fine everytime, and if/when I get it into gear to drive, it behaves quite normally. There's a cluster of three lights on the console that come on and off all the time (VSC, ABS, VSC TRAC OFF) when braking (and when attempting to disengage from park), but these don't seem to be related to the gate getting stuck in Park.
     
  4. May 2, 2016 at 1:56 PM
    #4
    RonT4R

    RonT4R New Member

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    Ron
    Virginia Beach
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    2007 4runner SR5 4WD
    Ok there is a shift/ lock assembly inside your console where the gearshift is that controls the locking and unlocking of the shift lever. It also has electronics that control VSC, Trac and other things. Send me a PM with your number and I can text you a few pictures from the manual.
     
  5. May 3, 2016 at 7:16 AM
    #5
    RonT4R

    RonT4R New Member

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    Ron
    Virginia Beach
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    2007 4runner SR5 4WD
    Picture sent
     
  6. May 3, 2016 at 11:50 AM
    #6
    drunner

    drunner New Member

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    First Name:
    Danny
    Anaheim
    Vehicle:
    07 SR5
    5100s, 885s, Toytec 2" rear, Camburg UCAs, 255/75/17 Duratracs
    There should be a little square near the top left of the shifter that you can pop up. There's a button under that to push that will let you shift it out of park. I want to say with the Tacoma it's always been a fuse issue that prevents it from happening.

    edit: check your brake lights, that's usually the fuse that causes an issue.
     
    RonT4R likes this.
  7. May 22, 2016 at 2:12 PM
    #7
    Pilotamis

    Pilotamis New Member

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    #2046
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    Vehicle:
    05 V6 Runner
    I have the exact same issue on my 05. I just bought it and can't believe the problems I'm finding. Were you able to fix this? Something I'll need to add to my growing list.
     
  8. May 23, 2016 at 8:27 PM
    #8
    drunner

    drunner New Member

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    Danny
    Anaheim
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    07 SR5
    5100s, 885s, Toytec 2" rear, Camburg UCAs, 255/75/17 Duratracs
    Surprisingly this isn't really an issue I've seen too much of. Like I said in a previous post, check your brake lights and fuses. Might be the brake pressure switch worst case scenario, but it's usually a fuse issue.
     
  9. May 24, 2016 at 12:46 PM
    #9
    Ol'Blue

    Ol'Blue New Member

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    "Not all who wander are lost"
    Vehicle:
    99 T4R LTD- 33's and locked, 01 SR5-,SAS Sold...
    A few things here and there. Still dreaming up stuff
    I'm going to guess that shift cables or lock actuator is the issue.....
     
  10. May 25, 2016 at 4:28 AM
    #10
    RonT4R

    RonT4R New Member

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    Virginia Beach
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    2007 4runner SR5 4WD
    When I bought my 4Runner it was neglected bad by a wife that didn't care..... She had spilled coffee, chocolate milk and numerous other drinks down inside the console. When I would shift from park if felt like crap. I ended up removing the entire console and scrubbing the entire thing in the sink replacing a lot of piece parts, scrubbing the shifting linkage, scrubbing the floor and replacing the carpet. I also found $6 in change inside the console. After all of this mine actually shifts pretty good now. So if you bought it used you might take a look all you need is a Phillips screwdriver.
     
  11. Nov 7, 2019 at 2:06 PM
    #11
    4RunnerChick

    4RunnerChick New Member

    Joined:
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    Member:
    #11902
    Messages:
    2
    Gender:
    Female
    First Name:
    Jessica
    Vehicle:
    2009 Black 4Runner
    Please HELP..

    I recently purchased an 09’ 4Runner through an online police auction. Foolishly. Although it was a recovered theft, I thought SURELY it’s fine; after all, it’s a Toyota. Right?!? Nope.

    Had it towed to my house, put a battery on it and had a key made. It cranked right up however when I put it in gear, the engine just revs like it’s in neutral. The reverse works fine, it just won’t move forward..

    A neighborhood mechanic convinced me to replace the pressure control solenoid along with fresh, genuine Toyota ATF and filter. Unfortunately, that did not resolve the issue.

    Any advice would be infinitely appreciated!!
     
  12. Nov 7, 2019 at 6:46 PM
    #12
    SlvrSlug

    SlvrSlug Slightly bent.

    Joined:
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    First Name:
    John
    Ramona Ca.
    Vehicle:
    2017 4-Runner SR-5 P. Kings, Built Right uca’s, Durabumps, RSG sliders
    Although i can not help you with your problem, i can welcome you to the forum.
     
    Bob and 4RunnerChick like this.
  13. Nov 7, 2019 at 9:13 PM
    #13
    4RunnerChick

    4RunnerChick New Member

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    2009 Black 4Runner
    Thanks so much. I'm glad to be here! :)
     
    Bob likes this.
  14. Dec 27, 2019 at 12:37 AM
    #14
    mrseth

    mrseth New Member

    Joined:
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    31
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Seth
    Vehicle:
    2004 Limited v8
    3" Rancho, 2.5" Delrin BL, 1.5" Supreme Spacer Lift, 35" Cooper MTP, Chopped Fenders, Racing buckets, 1.5" Spidertrax

    https://www.amazon.com/Standard-Mot...5------------&vehicleName=2004+Toyota+4Runner

    the answer to your problem.
     
    TN_FunRunner likes this.
  15. Feb 8, 2020 at 8:48 AM
    #15
    Shadetree mechanic

    Shadetree mechanic New Member

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    Gender:
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    First Name:
    Rob
    Vehicle:
    2004 4runner SR5
    I'm new to this forum. I have an 04 4runner with over 200k miles on it and am not in any financial position to buy another vehicle. I recently had a master cylinder go bad and a new one is about what the 4runner is worth. So, I removed the master cylinder and replaced it,through modification to the mount and linkage, with a 1971 Buick skylark mc with a 9" vaccuum booster. I have great brakes now but have to get creative with the wiring. I can not find a wiring diagram for the original master cylinder and was hoping someone may have one. Otherwise I will need to spend a lot of time tracing wires.
     

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