Auto Gear Stick (little red oblong button below) !!!!!

Hi everyone (FIRSTLY I hope I've posted it in the right place...)

So glad to find a forum like this.....

My car is a hiace supercustom 2.5 4wd Automatic diesel 1993.

I am a single mother with a problem with my hiace.Apart from not being able to read the japanese manual,I thought some of you lovely men on here might be able to help me!! LOL...........

Basically I can't put it in gear without having to press the little red oblong button (near the numbers P,D,Neutral etc) This then releases the side button on my gear lever.WHY is this happening? Is it a WARNING of something?

Also once I am in gear I can go through the gears without pressing the side button.Is this NORMAL? As I have always pressed the side button when changing gear,so I'm not sure whether its always done it or not.Just something I've noticed....

Any help would be welcome

Thanks alot bigbird33

when your hiace is started up you should be able to press the brake pedal and hold the side button on the gearstick then select a gear without pushing the red button.i think the button is a safety device incase you have your foot on the accelerator and you pull the gearstick into gear, or incase you need to move it and you cant start it or hold the brake pedal.as you say without the brake pedal being depressed you have to hold the red button in and then the gearstick button.the gearstick will go through the gears 1 2 and d without the gearstick button,this is to stop you selecting reverse while going forward to prevent damage to the gearbox.......a bit long winded but i hope this helps

Hi Thanks for answering so quick.

Normally I would put my foot on brake pedal and press the side button to put into gear,with no problem. Now the side button won't press at all unless I press the red button 1st. If it is a safety device as you say,just wondered why all of a sudden I have to press it every time.... Could it be a warning of somekind,like the gearbox/stick oil is low or something like that.(sorry to sound daft) I have had the car 4 years.

Also thanks for letting me know about the gear change.

Bigbird33

Hello Bigbird.. glad you are finding the forum useful.

My little handbook explains in the following way. (the button on the side of the gear stick is what they call the change Lever button)

When the ignition is in the ACC or Lock position the gear shift lever cannot be moved from P. It will only move from P when the Brake and the change lever button is pressed.

Between R and 2 gears the change lever button is not needed.

You must use the change lever button if you shift from 2 to L OR from R to P

It also states (helpfully) that if you shift out of P to place your foot on the brake and not the accelerator !

I think the red button alongside the gearselect display is to be used if you need to shift the gearstick whilst the engine is off (for gargae maintenance)

Just as Maximus said really

HAPPY CHRISTMAS

I'm guessing the red button has a power feed and some form of solenoid from the ignition? ...the brake pedal to engage bit I 'thought', was via cable....can you make sense of it here?
http://www.toyodiy.com/parts/p_J_1991_TOYOTA_HIACE_LH107G-JRPES_3312.html
Either way, I guess the housing will need to be removed to investigate

Are you saying that you get in as normal foot on brake and turn ign on you can't move the stick?

I'd try an automatic transmission specialist for their opinion

Red button is just an electric switch that over rides the autobox safety feature and yes it is for use when the engine is not running. To move a dead engined vehicle onto a transporter for example.

when you press the brake pedal you hear something click around the gearstick,its possible that it works of the brake vac system(the button on the gearstick not the red one)unless it works off the brake light volts as the brake light circuit seems to be live without the keys being in the ignition(brake lights work)

The gear shift has a lock on it, this is released by the brake light circuit being activated with the ign switched on - don't work without the ign on hence the red button.

THANKS GUYS for the info..............

Its much appreciated.

Also the link from chrisandhiace is very useful to have.

bigbird33

Reviving an old topic here.
I have the same problem as in the first post here..what is the fix? Do i have to trace wiring back from red switch , fuse maybe..I will attempt to find a wiring diagram and go from there unless someone has a bright idea..Thnx

Check the brake lights work?
Then all fuses, then there may be a solenoid near the lever that may click.

Sorry to not be more help. Probably the wires are ok, so that leaves switches, fuses and relays.