97 Automatic Corolla Shifter Stuck Options

[svnrd]

First time posting here so be gentile.


As the title says, my girlfriend's 97 corolla's shifter is stuck in park. I push the break all the way in, as well as the button on the side of the shifter, but I still can't get the car out of park. I'm not very knowledgable about cars, except ones I've owned and had to fix and she bought it used and doesn't have the owner's manual, so I do not know where to begin to find the problem. Besides a transmission problem I have a couple ideas but need to know where/how to check them on her car:

The fuse that deals with break/breaklights may be blown or that switch is bad

Some Connection be bad in the shifter.


help?

Thanks

[excableguy]

if it is like other automatic transmissions that I've had in the past, there is going to be switch/sensor that is mounted near the break pedal itself(probably up under the dash on these cars). Basically, when you step down on the brake, the pedal should touch this switch/sensor, which will then "tell" the transmission that the brake is applied and ready to be taken out of park. One sign that this system may not be working is if the car is running, and you apply the brake, sometimes you can here a slight pop near the shifter-- that is actually the lock disengaging. Anyway, some of those switches are adjustable, and some you just need to replace. Good luck, and I hope this helped a little.

[svnrd]

thanks for the help. I think this might be the problem, because I applied the break, and the break lights didn't turn on. Cheers for not being a transmission problem (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[excableguy]

let me know what it ends up being--I'll look out for it on my '95

[allshwnogo]

dont know if you have fixed this yet. I also have a 97 rolla auto the same thing happened on mine and it ended up being the brake light fuse.

[craterchest]

I have a 95 corolla and my car was doing the same thing. i changed the fuse and it worked fine for about 2 weeks. now everytime i get in my car i have to put a new fuse in. i have been doing this for about 5 days now. i was wondering if you guys could help me out? anything would be appreciated.