Won't go into gear

Brake sensor switch? Do you also have any trouble getting the car into Ready mode?

 

Brake pedal needs to be pressed for car to go from off to Ready, and from Park to any other gear.

If brake pedal sensor/switch is intermittently not working, it can cause problems, but the intermittent nature makes it difficult to diagnose.

 

Component #11 in the diagram:


TOYOTA ABS COMPONENTS.


If, it's the cause of your problems, it's a lot less than 1K.

 

Check the switch by watching the brake lamps when pressing the brake pedal. The car can be off for this. The brake lights should come on without pressing hard on the pedal. If you have to press hard on the pedal, it's out of alignment (the switch, which is under the dash, actuated by the brake pedal arm). It is pretty easy to align. If it can be duplicated intermittent the switch is fairly inexpensive and labour should be less than an hour. It's pretty easy to replace. I'd guess less than $200 total, and probably less than $100.

And of course someone had to post the -actual- ripoff price for the switch. Interesting there are two of them listed and one is about $10 less than the other. I wonder how you choose?

 

One other thing to check. I see your car is a 2011. It's about time for the 12V battery to fail. If low, it's possible it could cause this. Unlikely but possible.

 

Brake light switches are also adjustable at the brake pedal location so it's possible it is simply out of spec and not broken/faulty. A few twists in the mount will have the switch come on sooner or later during pedal application depending on the direction of the twists.

The most common issue I've seen across numerous hybrid forums is operator error; rushing the starting process and the car turns on but is in accessory mode not ready mode. In acc. mode, my CMax will still shift gears which really confuses new owners.