Stuck in Park

It is on the under side of the plastic steering column cover about 3 inches behind the steering wheel . A small postage stamp sized tab. It is there. A small screwdriver will open it. Push the button and voila it will shift.

 

That louverrd panel is for the automatic climate control feature. It is the temperature sensor.

 

The lever is there under the steering column where mlibanio said. I remember trying it out when I first read about it in the manual right after buying the car. I also remember that once I knew where it was, I was able to work it without having to pry the little cover out, just by sticking my pinky around between the instrument panel and the column cover. The requirements are a skinny pinky and a moderate pain threshold.

What I don't remember right now is whether that lever releases the interlock that keeps you from shifting out of park, or releases the interlock that keeps you from taking the key out when you're not in park. The car has both types of interlock. Maybe that lever releases both of them, I don't remember. If it's only for the key release, it won't be what you're looking for here.

The shifter interlock is supposed to release when you have the key ON and your foot on the brake. When it's working normally, if you just turn the key ON (without going to START), and sit there pressing and releasing the brake, you'd be able to hear the interlock solenoid clicking back in the dash behind the shifter, every time you press or release the brake. Do you hear anything like that?

If you don't, my next question might be, when you step on the brake, can someone behind the car confirm your brake lights come on?

-Chap

 

The parking paw is mechanically linked to the shifter handle. I'm wondering if this car is parked on a slope where the weight might be holding the paw in place?

Bob Wilson

 

The HV ECU handles all shifts. In this model, the parking paw is mechanically linked but I don't remember if linkage or cable. Mostly, inaccessible, but your problem is the steering wheel is locked?

Bob Wilson

 

Gen1's have a mechanical shift cable.
If you press the hidden button/lever with your finger after removing the "postage stamp" cover under steering column, shifter should easily move.

You can put a Gen1 into neutral without any power, ECUs or key availability.

Note, you still have to press the release button down on the shifter itself.

If you cannot get any further take apart the dash and look at the shift cable and mechanical bits. Something is mechanically wrong....hopefully it's under the dash and not inside the tranny.

 

3prong's right, I had misremembered. The hidden lever in the steering column will release the shift lock, as I just confirmed on my own car. If you push that lever upward all the way, while pushing the release button on the shifter itself, you should be able to shift out of park, even with the ignition off, even with no key inserted.

The way the interlock seems to work is by preventing the shifter button being pressed, so please compare and report back to us: with ignition OFF, no key inserted, how far can you press in the shifter button when you are not lifting the release lever on the steering column, compared to how far the shifter button can be pressed while the release lever on the column is lifted? It should feel as if the shifter button is blocked (less than 1 mm travel or so) in the first case. With the release lever lifted (if you're doing it right) you should be able to press the button much farther.

While we're at it, you might also make the same comparison, how far the button travels with the key ON but while not pressing the brake pedal, compared to how far with the key ON and the brake pedal depressed. If the button feels locked in the first case but not the second, then the interlock seems to be working even if the solenoid click is not clearly audible.

Now we will have narrowed the problem into either "I can't press the shifter button at all and therefore the shifter won't move" or "I can press the shifter button under the proper conditions, but even then the shifter still won't move out of park." That will help determine a next step.

-Chap

 

That's why you don't buy a salvage car especially a Pri to high tech

 

We'll see how disastrously complicated this turns out to be once the OP has invested another 60 seconds or so in observing the problem....

-Chap

 

If you get a great deal to start, like to tinker, and can use a computer (aka read stuff on PriusChat) a Gen1 can be a super deal and a fun project....but you'll have to invest some time and learn new things. Fixing broken cars is not a hobby that everyone enjoys.

 

If it's dark enough you'll see the brake reflection in the rear window from the center brake light, no helper required. (assuming the center bulb is not burned out)

 

what is the best way to pop the cover off under the steering column?