2003 Camry (automatic) will not shift into drive. Will go into park & reverse

Asked by pajimmy Mar 16, 2014 at 09:04 AM about the 2003 Toyota Camry LE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

When shifting, park and reverse work fine. But when I try to shift into drive, the shift lever will not go into drive. When shifting from P to R or R to P you can hear auto door locks clicking, but lever will not go into drive. Runs fine in reverse.

7 Answers

365

It needs to go to the shop Sounds like transmission problem (usually you need a new one when this happen Sorry )

2 people found this helpful.
102,635

Look on the left side of your shifter. There should be a tiny little panel. Take a screw driver and pop it off. Stick screwdriver in the hole and press down on the button inside. This is a shift lock release. You should be able to drive your car now. If it keeps locking up, you have a bad shift lock solenoid. You may want to leave the panel off for a while to see if it keeps locking up on you so you will be able to release it.

5 people found this helpful.
102,635

Here is a quick video so you can see exactly what I was talking about. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhXeGKypsQ0

27 people found this helpful.
6,835

Beginning Part number is 85933-xxxxxx Call Toyota give them prefix number There give you the rest

30

I have a 2002 Camry that was sitting for months I replace the battery now the gear shift will not go into gear nor will the windows go down

3 people found this helpful.
102,635

GuruVFBT, here is a short video on how to get the car out of park. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7k6tNGLO0w Check the window fuses and relay. If all seem good, remove door panel and inspect the wiring. If sitting for months, I have seen mice get in there and chew all of the wires to shreds.

2 people found this helpful.

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