Automatic shifter sticking and not allowing the key to be removed.

The last few months my shifter when put in Park will not allow the key to be removed. I have to put it in drive and back in park and usually this works the first time, sometimes second time, sometimes the third time.
Yesterday, when I tried to put it into Park and when I tried to take it out of Park, there's a crack sound like a piece of plastic stuck in the way. It's not the plastic that moves when you move the shifter. Sounds like it is under that.
I'm out of work and do not have the money to take it in for repairs. I have a Haynes manual, best I can do.
Will this get worse? Any ideas on what the problem is?
2005 Taco Prerunner
curtherrin@msn.com

 

I would pull the shift console out of the way and eliminate the shifter slides possibly being a problem.