Shifter Stuck In Park

Hello Tacoma lovers,

Sometimes when I hop in my truck, the shifter will be stuck in park and I try to jam it down but won't do anything. There's a small black plastic bit right above the shift lever and when I push that in with my key, it'll push it back just enough so it allows me to pop the shift lever out of park. Then it'll repeat itself again once I put it in park and try shifting it out of park. Doesn't happen every time but it's happening more and more often the more I delay fixing it. (Keep in mind, my shifter is a shift lever that is attached to the steering wheel, not the average shifter in the middle). I could be wrong but it looks like the previous owner possibly greased the small black plastic bit, not sure if that helped it or made it worse OR the grease is drying up and that could be the cause of it getting stuck in park. Appreciate any help I can get!

 

Welcome to the forum

Some members with early models should be along to help you out soon.
Can you post a photo of the black plastic bit you are pushing on?

 

1st Gen forum would get you more response than wheels and tires forum

 

I wasn't aware that Tacoma's had column shifters. 2000, 2.4L = 5 lug truck, right? Might get more answers in the 5 lug forum.

For floor shifting trucks, there are a bushings that simply wear out, that need to be replaced. I suspect that is the same in your case, but I haven't got the slightest clue how to replace the bushings in a column shifter.

Thinking about it now, 1st gen Tundra's have the shifter on the column... The shop truck ("ute") I drove overseas, was a manual 5-on-the-tree shifter...

 

Yeah I'm aware of bushings going out. I've actually read other threads with you replying to them but I can't seem to find other threads about my specific situation so I decided to make a thread lol. I'll post a picture about the small black plastic but once I get a chance.

 

I made some assumptions to find this page: CONTROL SHAFT & CROSSSHAFT | Toyota TACOMA RZN140L-TRSDKAB RZN140,150,19#,VZN150,195 | Parts Catalogs | PartSouq

It looks like the bushings are (33541E - 90386-10017), but there could be more. I am not familiar with taking this apart, or reassembleding it, and the commonly available FSM doesn't seem to have anything related to this column shifter.

 

I've seen a bad brake lamp switch cause this issue before. Have you verified your brake lights illuminate while brake pedal is pressed? Also, check the 10A STOP fuse behind the dash. Orrrrrr, if it's anything like the tundras I know there's a little pin in the column that causes this issue as well, especially if parked on a hill.

 

I recently put in a new brake light switch since the brake lights were not activating and it fixed that issue. All fuses inside and outside of the truck are not burnt so those are good to go as well. But yeah, it's a small pin but it's plastic. Honestly, if it doesn't serve a purpose, I might just remove that small black plastic pin because it just keeps getting in the way.

 

here is the only other relevant parts diagram. If it's not on one of these two pages then
STEERING COLUMN & SHAFT | Toyota TACOMA RZN140L-TRSDKAB RZN140,150,19#,VZN150,195 | Parts Catalogs | PartSouq



It looks like there are two version of the steering column, one with tilt, and one without.

 

Hmm, I looked at both and I could be wrong but It doesn't look like the part is there unless I'm not looking right. It's also a non tilting steering wheel which helps matching which diagram it is. I'll have to send a picture when I get home to help better identify the part to you guys

 

Here are the pictures of the small plastic but I was referring to. Hope it helps anyone.