2004 Tacoma floor shifter - Key will not come out of ignition

Hi gang!

I've seen a few other threads on this but all of them were column shifters. I'm hoping someone who has a Tacoma with a floor shifter can help.

Problem - Beginning about a week ago when I would stop and put my truck in park, the key would get stuck. I can turn the truck on or turn it to ACC, but I could not turn it to "lock." I would fiddle with the shifter and then it would usually turn to lock and I could remove the key.

Today however... the key absolutely refuses to turn past ACC to the lock position. I read somewhere in this forum about disconnecting the battery to get it to come out - that worked great. But I don't want to have to disconnect the battery every time to remove my key. Ha!

I also read about adjusting the shifter cable. Mine isn't a cable, but it is an adjustable bar between the shifter and the transmission. I tried adjusting that, but no luck. But, since it's really hot out I'll wait until it cools off to try some more.

Any other suggestions for this issue with floor shifters (not column shifters)?

Summarize -

Cannot turn key from ACC to LOCK.

Been happening sporadically for a week. Jiggling the shifter in/out of park tended to work. But now it will not come out.

Disconnecting the battery releases the key.

Thanks for your help!

 

*bump* Anyone at all? Help!

 

Try to re adjust it where it connects to the transmission. I know you tried once before, but if it's not adjusted properly it won't engage into park.

 

I completely loosened the adjusting arm and made sure the transmission was in park (with the arm still loose). Still couldn't get the key out. Or maybe the sensor is on the arm?

 

There is apparently a part that needs to be replaced but this is for column shifter models. I can't seem to find a similar issue with floor shifters. This is the service bulletin mentioned for column shifters - T-SB-0094-12. This appears to be for the Tundra. But does that also apply to the Tacoma?

 

For what ever reason I cant copy and paste a link, but If you go to the search at the top, look up "key stuck in ignition" under titles and there is a thread about this.

 

It could be the Park/Neutral Safety Switch on the right side of the transmission. It tells the computer what position the tranny shifter is in (to allow or disallow certain functions).

I haven't done it, but it is replaceable. Not sure if its adjustable.

 

Can you point out where that is? Thanks!

 

As I said ... "the right side of the transmission". Its connected to the wiring harness.

It looks like this :
https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=319913&cc=1357578&jsn=327

 

Yeah. Right side of transmission is kinda vague. Ha. But the pic helped me to locate it. Thanks!

Dang. $165 for that part? Not cheap. Doesn't look like it's easy to replace either with the exhaust pipe in the way.

While I was down there looking for that part, I tried an experiment - Various shifting back and forth from Park to revers and drive, etc. I did notice a more pronounced "click" once and I was able to remove the key at that point, but was unable to duplicate doing it again.