Shift lever
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 48
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From: arizona
Shift lever
My shift lever would not go from park to any gear. I jiggled it and she disengaged. Is this a common problem and is there a fix for this
Last edited by rooster1; May 13, 2022 at 10:11 PM. Reason: Spelling
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
There is a safety interlock that prevents it from shifting out of Park.
Have some one stand behind the RX and press the brake pedal and your assistant should confirm the brake light lighting up. If not then that is preventing the interlock from moving out of park.
Take a flat screwdriver and pop off the rectangular rubber block next to shift lever. Once the block is removed you can reach downed press the interlock pin to release it. [Instructions and picture are in the owners manual].
The safety is there for a reason and please have some one investigate. It can be the brake pedal switch or fuse etc.
Salim
Have some one stand behind the RX and press the brake pedal and your assistant should confirm the brake light lighting up. If not then that is preventing the interlock from moving out of park.
Take a flat screwdriver and pop off the rectangular rubber block next to shift lever. Once the block is removed you can reach downed press the interlock pin to release it. [Instructions and picture are in the owners manual].
The safety is there for a reason and please have some one investigate. It can be the brake pedal switch or fuse etc.
Salim
Pole Position
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 2,210
Likes: 1,109
From: Ontario
This is a problem on the 99-03 RX and the 1st gen Toyota Highlander (01-07). There's a "shift module" which is under the shifter and inside is a little solenoid. This can fail/wear out and stick. I got one from the junkyard and it fixed the problem. You can't buy it from Toyota/Lexus without getting the whole shifter, so you might have to buy a whole shifter on eBay or find it at a yard.
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,557
Likes: 1,385
From: Austin, TX
Is it weak battery, bad brake switch, bad release relay, bad shift cable end connector etc.
No sense in buying unnecessary parts till we know the root cause of the problem.
Salim
PS: I think there are two switches on the brake pedal. Please verify, but for sure the one that lights up the brake lights is the one that releases the interlock relay.
Last edited by salimshah; May 17, 2022 at 11:00 AM. Reason: PS
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