The car will start but is stuck in park and wont shift

Check your brake light function. If that is at fault then your brake light switch may be faulty. If your brake lights are fine then you may have a faulty shift lock solenoid. Some Japanese models of that era have a button or key slot near to the shift lever. If you depress that then it should manually release the lock and allow you to move through the gears, until you move back to 'P' position at which point it will lock again.

This is often a switch located on the brake pedal lever. The car requires you to press the Brake pedal before shiftting out of Park. You lose the signal when a foot hits or breaks this part. Look under the dash for the part and fix it.

There is a "park lock cable" located in the steering column that releases the shifter after the ignition switch is turned to the on position. There is also a BTSI (brake trans shift interlock) solenoid that also releases the shifter when you press on the brake pedal. One of them is not functioning, are you able to turn the steering wheel after the car is started?

it sounds like a neutral safety switch try wiggling on the steering wheel or the gear shifter while trying to start it

Turn the key from the lock position to the first 'on' position (first click from the position the key is inserted). Holding the brake, try to move the selector. Does it move? If so, you have a problem with the shift interlock. If not, you probably have a linkage / trans problem Have an assistant watch the brake lights. If no brake lights, check fuses for blown fuse. Repairing lights will repair interlock.

Hi,
Try releasing your parking brake and having someone push or rock your car. Sometimes the gearbox gets stuck in Park if the car moves after you put the car in Park and let the car roll a bit before applying the handbrake. It could also be a fault with the gearbox itself.
Its also possible that the locking tab mechanism (that gets relesed when you press the button on your auto gear shift) has jammed. If you can get it out of Park do not put the car back into Park ,but rather put it in Neutral after you have finished driving around etc and use the hand brake when parking. At least you wont be stuck in Park until you get it to the repair shop. Note that your car can roll in Neutral, especially if your parking brakes are worn, so take extra care when parking ie point your wheels toward the kerb when parking on any hills or slopes.
Any time your gearbox gets stuck its a fair bet that you need to get your gearbox inspected by an authorized repairer.
Good luck,
Steve (Melbourne, Australia)

CHECK BRAKE LIGHT CIRCUIT(FUSE,BULBS,ETC.)THIS HAPPENED TO ME ALSO.GLAD I READ THE OWNERS MANUAL BFORE TAKING COLUMN APART.

is it parked in a steep hill, if so,try to releave some pressure off it,and try to shift it,if not,block wheels so van wont move,inspect shift linkage,if ok,undo linkage from tranny,try shifter invan if it moves ok,if not,inspectshifter and linkange,if its ok,try moving shifter arm at tranny,be careful!if it doesnt move, youll have to take oil pan off tranny and inspect park gear lock.

There is a plug in the stering column that controls that. If you push on the brake then the gear shift will move the plug has malfunctioned and now you can not get key out. if you take off the plastic cover under the stering column and unplug this it should fix the problem. I had the same problem it is a safety switch. once unplugged you will not have to depress the brake to move gears.

Pull hard on the steering wheel to the left and the steering wheel lock mechanism should release. I mean pull hard to left because shift interlock is froze if you cannot get it this way you will need a pro to help! Good Luck Mate.