Red Button

Hello, Can someone please tell me what the red button does by the gear selector on the auto? I've pressed it plenty but nothing obvious happens. Was rather hoping it might be a passenger ejection facility. Thank you

Oceanic4005 wrote:

Hello, Can someone please tell me what the red button does by the gear selector on the auto? I've pressed it plenty but nothing obvious happens. Was rather hoping it might be a passenger ejection facility. Thank you

Allows the gear selector to be moved without the brake pedal being depressed. Handy on a ramp etc.

Cheers,
             W.

Ah, i shall try that thank you.

On my 1991 it basically bypasses the automatic transmission gear shifter lock. You don't need a key even to shift into neutral to roll the van around the driveway! You can out it back into park without depressing the red button again. I use this feature a lot when servicing my van at home.
Cheers, Roman

I have mine adjusted so that it needs to be used every time you shift out of park.
I consider it a part of the anti theft systems I have.

i feel i must add a reply to this post, as i too am a new Hiace owner and noticed the red button on my auto shift panel. Having served in the Military, red buttons are very intriguing and enticing, along with anything that says do not touch or do not adjust the settings. So not knowing what it was instantly made me press it, again and again and again... Then looking, feeling and generally wishing something would happen. Ejector seat was not something i imagined but, anti car jacking flame thrower was one wishfull thought. Deploy parachute for quick braking was another, Nitros button among others.... pressed and pressed and pressed and pressed.....

Saw the title of this Post and had to have a read.... I hope you can all imagine my disappointment and complete devastation to find out what it was All is not lost however... I have found another button called OVERDRIVE now this sounds interesting I am sure that there is an awesome effect that this aggressively named button will do

Hi dogsoldier96 If you'd like a pdf of the owner's manual email me nick_andon@hotmail.com

dogsoldier96 you'll fit in nicely in the forum fella ;o)

Passenger ejector? I like that idea!

Hi, new member here.
I own a '96 3ltd that is giving me grief. I will post my problem in another thread, but for now, I could really use the owner manual offered by Andonic.
Hello Andonic, I hope you don't mind me requesting a copy from you via email?
Cheers.

dogsoldier96 wrote:

i feel i must add a reply to this post, as i too am a new Hiace owner and noticed the red button on my auto shift panel. Having served in the Military, red buttons are very intriguing and enticing, along with anything that says do not touch or  do not adjust the settings. So not knowing what it was instantly made me press it, again and again and again... Then looking, feeling and generally wishing something would happen. Ejector seat was not something i imagined but, anti car jacking flame thrower was one wishfull thought. Deploy parachute for quick braking was another, Nitros button among others.... pressed and pressed and pressed and pressed.....

Saw the title of this Post and had to have a read.... I hope you can all imagine my disappointment and complete devastation to find out what it was   All is not lost however... I have found another button called OVERDRIVE now this sounds interesting I am sure that there is an awesome effect that this aggressively named button will do

When I first bought mine I wondered also what this red button was for. So I rang the dealer and asked. He told me it was to lock in the 4WD. Duh!!

WGWarburton wrote:

Oceanic4005 wrote:

Hello, Can someone please tell me what the red button does by the gear selector on the auto? I've pressed it plenty but nothing obvious happens. Was rather hoping it might be a passenger ejection facility. Thank you

Allows the gear selector to be moved without the brake pedal being depressed. Handy on a ramp etc.

Cheers,
             W.

Also handy if the vehicle needs to be loaded on a tow truck

Hi I have a problem where the application of the brake is not activating the solenoid so the red button has to be depressed to select a gear. Looking for help on testing the solenoid and possible wiring diagrams

@houlty56 Do the brake lights work? Is the switch activated by the pedal OK? On manual transmissions isn't it the clutch pedal rather than the brake that needs to be depressed or am I wrong (haven't had reason to drive a manual Toyota for so many years I can't remember). You haven't said if yours is auto like the earlier posts or not. Maybe I should shut up, this probably isn't actually helpful!

Hi
I have an automatic model. It looks like there is a solenoid on the gear shift unit that should operate when the brake pedal is depressed and release the locking mechanism that the red button is attached to, and allow me to select a gear. The rear lights are working.