Had an interesting experience with a 2000 today.  Got a call around 5:30 from the cell phone of one of the women at work in the parking lock.  She couldn't get it out of park.  I went to check it out, and sure enough, it was locked in hard.  This was level ground, and she appeared to be just barely touching the curb (no visible tire deformation).  However, since I couldn't rock it by hand, I knew she was touching it to some degree.   No amount of strength was going to free it as was.  The wheels were nearly at their maximum angle turning right.  I figured that straightening them would only increase the pressure as well as stress the pump, so I just fought it trying to get it un locked.  I ended up straighening the wheels, and it didn't work the first time, but going another time from stop to stop did the trick and it popped out.

In NO WAY should it have become this stuck with that little pressue.  Any experience?

WTF is torque lock?

Was she running it in 4wd on a hard surface?  

Quoted: Was she running it in 4wd on a hard surface?

Nope, 2wd at the time of the problem.  This is only in 4wd during snow and ice, a distant memory in August.

Quoted: WTF is torque lock?

Torque lock is when the "Park" parking lock device in an AT is stressed enough so it is very difficult to disengage.  It normally happens on a hill, and severity varies with the stress involved.  The curb resistance in this case was artifically creating slope conditions this time...

If  just the parking curb caused the torque lock i would have her get the tranny looked at just little amout shouldn't of caused it to lock up

You know, I just thought of something.  On my Toyota 4Runner there was a small panel near the Automatic shift lever.  My Rav4 has it, too.  I forget the purpose of it, but you could unlock the tranny by popping the panel off and pressing inward.  I believe it's called a shift lock override button.

Quoted: You know, I just thought of something.  On my Toyota 4Runner there was a small panel near the Automatic shift lever.  My Rav4 has it, too.  I forget the purpose of it, but you could unlock the tranny by popping the panel off and pressing inward.  I believe it's called a shift lock override button.

I've got a 4Runner too, and when I first got the call, I thought it was a similar thing.  However, that toyota override overrides the mechanical button that prevents the shifter from moving unless the brake is applied.  It does not change the pawl engagement.  Good thought, but I don't think that's it.  

get a manual tranny! only communists drive automatics

Quoted: get a manual tranny! only communists drive automatics

Only needle dicks drive manuals....    Seriously, I like manuals, but if I'm buying, it's going to be an automatic...

Quoted: Quoted: get a manual tranny! only communists drive automatics Only needle dicks drive manuals....

huh

Quoted: In NO WAY should it have become this stuck with that little pressue.  Any experience?

Just a thought .... But were the brake lights working , seen more then one car with a flakey brake light switch that won't disengage the shift interlock .

Quoted: Quoted: In NO WAY should it have become this stuck with that little pressue.  Any experience? Just a thought .... But were you trying to shift it without your foot on the brake ? a 2000 should have a shift interlock .

Nope, brake was applied.  Originally I though that the interlock failed and was looking for an override (see above).  However, you could hear it engage and disengage when the brake was manipulated.  It was definately torque lock.

The wheels were nearly at their maximum angle turning right. I figured that straightening them would only increase the pressure as well as stress the pump, so I just fought it trying to get it un locked. I ended up straighening the wheels, and it didn't work the first time, but going another time from stop to stop did the trick and it popped out.

Hindsight is 20-20, but letting some air out of the tires might have also helped, by reducing contact with the curb.

Usually, getting two or three burly-type guys to push the vehicle back and forth a few inches will allow you to get it out of Park.