So i just picked up a 99 celica gt with 120k miles on it for $100. Its an auto but the transmission is funny, you dont have to push the button to shift through park and reverse ect, and when you put the car in park you cant turn the key passed accesory or whichever position makes the key completely vertical. Its almost like the ECU doesnt recognize the car is in park, wierd.

Any ideas on what is wrong? for $100 i dont really care if its a major problem because i can just swap a manual tranny in if it needs a new auto one. But if its just a shift linkage problem or ECU problem <$500 i would just keep it an auto ya digg?

Thanks for your ideas, everything helps!

sounds like the shift lock is broken or the park-nuetral position switch on the trans has been bypassed.

check the wiring to the trans and around the shifter, something as simple as a linkage or wire may be broken. also make sure the shift lock bypass button isnt jammed down or something, however that would still disallow starting in gear.

will it start with the car in a forward or reverse gear?

This post has been edited by Bitter: Sep 14, 2008 - 9:50 AM

$100, what a deal. Salvage title or something?

not salvaged mint condition, $100 because of the transmission problem.

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Car Does NOT start in gear, has to be in park to start

kinda off topic but can i see pictures of this mint condition $100 car? lol thats awesome

your switch/seloniod for the button might have broken or came off and thats why you dont have to push the button in to put it in gear

i can take pics tomrw with my phone so they wont be amazing quality but yea i can take some for ya

anyone know?

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still sounds like a problem with the PRNDL switch on the front of the transmission OR a physical problem with the shift lever mechanisms.

no one is going to say 'its exactly THIS part and you need to do exactly THIS to fix it', you need to figure it out or take it to a shop.

This post has been edited by Bitter: Sep 21, 2008 - 1:23 PM