For a 1998 Camry - my gear shift lever will not move out of park if the temperature is more that about 50 F. So I've been depressing the small button on the console to move into Drive. Maybe some electrical component is heating up? Does anybody have any possible solutions? Thanks.

 

Start by determining if the brake lights still work when the shift lock out does not.

 

Yes, the brake lights do work, when the gear shift is stuck in Park.

 

The is an electric solenoid in the in car gear shift mechanism. When the ign switch is turned to ACC, the shift lock computer receives power from the CIG(arette) fuse. When the switch is turned to ON, the computer also received power from the ECU-IG fuse (also powers the power antenna). When the brake pedal is pushed the computer activates the shift gear solenoid to allow shifting out of Park.

When the problem occurs to check the fuses and other components:

Determine if ign key can be removed when the shifter is placed in Park but not be removed when placed in gear.

Determine if the cigarette lighter works and car antenna goes up/down with radio on/off.

 

Thanks again for the tips. The cigarette lighter does not work, but the fuses that are associated with the cigarette lighter (according to the fuse diagram) are both working. I'm wondering if the fuse diagram is totally correct.

The car does not have the original radio, but has a installed radio/cd deck.

The ign key can be removed with the shifter is in Park, but cannot be removed when in gear.

 

Could be a bad transmission shift interlock relay.

 

Where is the shift interlock solenoid located in the Camry, underneath the shift console? If it is, wow, this console seems like it's quite a challenge to lift off.

 

Get some kind of service manual having details of removing the console covers. It's not that bad if you know how to do it.

 

So I went to Pick n Pull to see if I could get a shift lock solenoid for my Camry. I took off the center console, but I am a little unsure of which part is the solenoid. It does not quite match the view that the Haynes manual provides. I am uploading a couple of photos that I took.

 

Shift lock is on located on passengers side of shift lever. Its location is about as forward towards the dash as the shift arm is when in park.