Deton8er

Hi everyone, long time lurker, first time poster here.....My name is Matthew and I live in Pittsburgh, PA. I'm happy to join this site, seems like a lot of extremely knowledgeable people on here.


Here's the problem... I have a 99' that just hit 81k. I barely drive her but took it out last night and the shifter will not go any higher than Neutral or any lower than D3. There is a little bit of sticky residue from a drink spilled on there a few months ago:/ Could this be the issue?


I tried to do a search and seems someone with an 05 TL had a similar problem, turned out to be a fuse I believe. Any help would be highly appreciated. Thanks again

acutee

It could be brake switch, i don't think sticky is preventing you from shifting to any gear. It is very easy to remove shifting cover and see if anything is in its path.

BetterBob

Try this.

Just to the right of the shifter, there is a little access that you can open w/ a screw driver.

Open it (don't lose the cover) and press down on the little thing in there, keep holding down and attempt to shift to park.

It is used by towing companies to put it in neutral without the key.

If it lets you, i would also assume it's your brake switch.

Deton8er

Thanks for the reply Acutee. Is the brake switch under the shift cover? Perhaps some of the sticky liquid got on it? Needless to say, since I can't put the car in park I also cannot remove the key or lock the vehicle:/

Deton8er

That's the first thing I tried BetterBob, no luck there

TLer trash

Could be a shifter cable. Typically they start out getting stiff into and out of park. I've never seen one get difficult on both ends.

Deton8er

Ya it's like the shifter will not move to the right to bring it up and right into reverse or down and right into 2nd

3.2TLc

Pull the console cover and get a closer look at the actual mechanism for the shifter's linkage. Maybe just cleaning and lubing will help ?

acutee

If it was brake switch issue, it is not hard to replace. it is located in the driver side food well. Here is the DIY instructions, but do check everything as everyone suggusted.

https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/diy-brake-switch-614710/

Deton8er

That's what she said....Haha thanks buddy, I'm going to mess with it today and hopefully figure out.

ErickUa5

My shift console was filled with old sticky coffee residue some cleaning with Wd-40 fixed it remember the cup holders are right there so at some point in time some sugar liquid fell in or the reverse lock out feature is malfunctioning in some way electrical or mechanical take it apart and see what's stopping it from moving.
Unique to the 2000 and up TL not the 99 you can get a transmission code for the first hold switch sticking.