ingition key will not release without backing up.

I have a 98 PreRunner 2WD & I have a problem that I can't turn key to off position & remove the key until I crank itup & back up a few inches 2 to 5 times. I had the ignition switch taken apart, cleaned & put back. My thinking is it is not the ignition switch, but something in the transmission linkage that is not disengaging to release the key. The engine turns off, but key will not turn to the off/remove position.
Anyone have this problem before & if so how did you fix it?
thanks.

 

Cant tell by your postings if your truck is auto or manual and it isnt listed on the left side of the page where your profile is .
Anyhow , here is a diagnostic for automatic
STICKY SHIFTER / SHIFTER IS HARD TO MOVE
Most of us would disconnect the shifter cable from the transmission lever and then verify the cable is free by hopping in the truck and moving the shifter from park to low . We should feel nothing because the shifter cable is no longer connected to the transmission . If the shifter is still tight to move , we know that the issue resides in the cable or the plastic shifter cover . A quick lube job is going to fix that up .

Next , with the shifter cable removed from the transmission lever , try and manually move that transmission lever by hand . You should feel click , click , click and it should be fairly easy to move with your hands . If you cant move it by hand , remove the PRNDL switch shown on page 16 at this link , it shows the switch in question . Spray the heck out of it . Some guys actually have to replace the PRNDL switch becuase of corrosion .The PRNDL switch gets very tight when it corrodes http://www.toyotatundraforum.com/pdf/A750E.pdf

When the switch is removed , you can spray the seal on the transmission that sits behind the switch to see if there are additional problems with the lever shaft since the lever shaft is also known to corrode .
, then take a small screwdriver and pry the lever seal away from the shifter selector shaft enough to blast some lubricant between the seal until you get the lever to move by hand .Might have to work it back and forth a little but its going to free up . You should have the wheels blocked when you do this .Both of these issues are very common

Next , place the transmission gear shifter in park and " REMOVE THE KEY "
Throw the key on the drivers seat until your done .
Go to rear of truck and manually push it by hand to verify the truck is actually in park . Go back under the truck and check to see if the shifter cable lines up perfectly with the hole in the transmission lever . If it doesnt line up , adjust the shifter cable until it fits perfectly into the transmission lever . The adjustment is under the shift counsole .
Once the cable is aligned with the transmission shift lever , verify the truck will only start in park and nuetral .

P0705
This covers any normal shifter cable and alignment issues and all diagnostics start on page 53 of this pdf http://fjcruiser-club.com/docs/RM/A7...0Transaxle.pdf

Then read here http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/311737-p0705-code-popped-yesterday.htm
.
and here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/solved-need-help-fast-truck-will-not-shift-out-of-park.390784/

Now you know the shifter is free with the truck in the off position .
Now , start the truck and verify you can smoothly shift through all the gears . Has the shifter freed up or is it still really tight ?

If its still tight with the engine running , remove all ground straps and clean them spotless . Add additional ground straps if you please .
I have seen vehicles catch on fire for this very reason .
When the ground wires on circuits get old and corroded , they no longer function properly and loose contact with ground . Guess what your shifter cable just became ? The ground wire from your transmission to the vehicle body .
I have replaced many melted shifter cables . The shifter cable becomes the vehicles ground and the plastic outer shield will actually melt to the inner cable . This is more noticeable on todays vehichles with all the fancy control motors and electronics as they draw much more amperage in comparison to older cars and trucks . With the non metal box on our trucks all we have is the frame and truck cab to rely on for our grounding needs .
A little sand paper used to clean those ground straps usually fixes the problem but you can always add a couple more straps to be safe . Some guys are too late and the cable is fried . Some guys replace the cable without replacing or cleaning the grounds only to have the same issue again .

 

Thank You for the great info. my truck is an automatic. The shifter isn't sticking at all that I can tell, however it seems to be looser than normal, meaning it has play from side to side. So I don't think it is binding up there. I loaned the truck to someone & after that, that is when these problems showed up, also the truck has been sitting & not driven much over the past 2 years. My guess then is that the cable has become corroded or maybe bent. All the other gears seem to work just fine, except that when placed in park, it is possible that it's not going all the way into park to release the key. I will check all the things you mentioned, clean & lube the cable etc. & see if that fixes it. I have the truck up for sale, but it would be nice to have that fixed. Thanks.

 

something is most likely loose under the shifter cover. open it up and find out. its likely to be the neutral safety switch.

this one for the 2.7 and 3.4

this one for the 2.4

 

I just looked at the shifter linkage, & sprayed it with wd-40. This is just old fashion metal linkage rods, not a cable. There is one electronic cable that runs along the side of the trans. & connects to another that goes up toward the shifter. The shifter works fine through all the gears, P,N,D, 2,1,R. The engine will turn off, just the key will not turn to the full off position to release the key to be removed, until I restart the truck, put in reverse, & back up a few inches, when the moon & stars & mars are lined up just perfect, then I can remove the key. WD-40 didn't help.

 

thats ok substitue your old linkage rods for a cable . they are both adjusted the same way

 

try following that electronic cable. your truck has to have a safety switch like I linked earlier. im fairly certain that's the issue.

 

I have the same issue with my 98. I found it was caused by slop in the shifter and the switch not being engaged. When going from drive to park just give the shifter a good push forward and to the right usually lets the key out.

 

And is why I posted the adjustment procedure .
Go under the truck and loosen the adjustment nut . Put the truck in park and remove the key from inside the cab . Put the transmission in park underneath the truck . Verify the truck holds in park by pushing the truck by hand , tighten the adjustment nut .