I have never heard of this problem before, and as of yet have not found it in this forum. When I try to remove my key, it will not come out unless the battery is disconnected. If left in, it will run down my battery, and will then (of course) release. I'm fairly certain it is an electrical problem, but I do not know where to begin. Thanks for your looking, and for all possible help.

Is your transmission shifter in Park?


Sam

There is a lock that won't let you take the key out unless the shifter is in park. It is possible for this to malfunction and lock-out even in park. I would be able to better tell with a wire diagram, I don't know what year you're talking about.

I would imagine it is a solenoid driven lock, that gets power when the shifter is not in park. Disconnecting the battery would cut power and release the lock. For it to malfunction in the locked position, it would have to be a short or a stuck switch. I do not know where the parts are located for this system, if the switch is by the lever; or if it works off a relay in the instrument panel; or maybe something else.

Worst case and easiest solution would be to cut power to that lock; either permanently or add a manual switch. Then you would just have to remember yourself to put it in park before you take out the key (shouldn't be hard). Best case would to find the actual flaw and fix it.

What year is it, so I can try to look up some wiring diagrams?

The car is indeed in the park position when trying to remove the key. I appreciate all replys and I hope this next informaion helps further solve this mystery.

The camry is a 1994 model. It is 6 cylinder. I hope this will help with locating a wire diagram. Thank you for taking the time to look. Again it is VERY MUCH APPRECIATED.

michele

Ok, this is very much an electrical problem, as we all have thought! :-D

I have done the research and have narrowed the problem down to two components. "Shift Lock ECU" OR "Shift Lock Control Switch" And I have a link to a document that you can review as well for some information.

My original idea of how the system should work is pretty darn accurate! It is a solenoid that locks the key in place. This solenoid is working fine in your case. The problem is the switch that is supposed to turn it off.

It has to do with the "Shift Lock" system. This is the system that only lets you come out of "Park" when the brake is down and the Key is in. It would be helpful to know that this is in fact working. Do these 2 tests and let me know.
1) Is it possible to shift out of park? If the battery is out, put it back in, hit the brake and put the key in (you don't have to start the car) and see if you can shift out of park.
2) Make sure that you can only shift out of Park when BOTH the key is in, and the brake is down. This will require 3 mini-tests (neither key nor brake, key only, brake only) It should only come out of Park when BOTH key and brake.

Assuming you know how to operate a DMM for continuity tests, we will go to the following. As a safety precaution, disconnect or remove the battery. Wait 90 seconds (you will be near an air-bag controller so the wait is important). Now take out the trim around the shifter. You should see the "Shift Lock Control Switch" toward the front of the shifter, I don't know what it looks like, I havent' seen it myself. But it should have 3 wires coming out of it: Green, Green-RedStripe, and Green-WhiteStripe. With the lever in "Park" test for continuity between the Green and Green-WhiteStripe wire. There should NOT be continuity. (If you have to remove a wire-harness, make sure you test the switch and not the wires, test the contacts that the harness connects the respective wires to). The most accurate reading will be of just the switch (i.e. disconnected harness) because it will isolate a short somewhere else.

If there is Continuity then the switch will need to be replaced (or fixed if there is something obviously obstructing it or whatever). If not then the problem will most like reside in the "Shift Lock ECU". If you do not want to replace either system, you can simply cut the Lime-BlackStripe wire coming out of the Shift Lock ECU, I do not recommend this because it will be hard to undo. With the Lime-BlackStripe wire cut, the Key Interlock will simply not operate. I.E. the car will not hold your key hostage. The drawback is you will be able to remove your key when the car is in-gear (it is more of a remider to put your car in park before you get out). So just make sure you Park before you get out, if you do cut this wire.

Reference:
http://www.autoshop101.com/forms/AT12.pdf

ICE745 You are awesome! It may take me a day or two to complete the task you laid out, but I will return to let you know how things went. I really do appreciate all of your help. You have my deepest gratitude.:smooch: