Neutral Safety Switch? - Toyota 4Runner Forum

stephan07 · 03-06-2024, 12:24 PM

2017 TRD Pro. Car starts in park. Light says P and N when shifted. Blank in all others. ABS and check engine lights on. When driving, it slips into neutral, revs. I'll adjust the shifter a few times and goes back in. Its not my daily, but getting worse.

48k miles on her. I'm gonna try and swap out the safety switch, but it looks like a real mutha F er to get off.

Anyone got any hints on the getting the switch off. Ive been on youtube, and all struggle. Someone used a plumbers removal tool with decent success.

150$ and a lot of F bombs to do it myself, or 850 at the dealer... I'm gonna give it a go.

John in NC · 03-06-2024, 03:30 PM

Had to replace a shift linkage bushing in my wife's old Chevy Trailblazer, likely not your issue but it solved our problem, it was stuck in park and you couldn't budge the shifter.
Hope your fix works, good luck!

SlvrRnnR · 03-06-2024, 05:07 PM

Have you tried soaking it in PB Blaster? I had a similar issue last fall and (DTC) P0705 code. After suggestion from Vikings Garage on Youtube, I doused it w PB Blaster and erased the code. Every couple months I'll hit it w some lubricant and so far so good. (knock on wood)

I did buy the switch in case it comes back, I think ramps will make it an easier job and definitely a sunny warm day that I feel like patience is on my side (I also researched how to vids and not many out there but plenty of pics of the mangled aftermath having to be ripped off)

thatoneguy · 03-06-2024, 05:36 PM

That job is $850 at the dealer?? Rude. Neutral safety switch problems are one of the few annoying mechanical things about 5th gens.

djeepin · 03-08-2024, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan07

2017 TRD Pro. Car starts in park. Light says P and N when shifted. Blank in all others. ABS and check engine lights on. When driving, it slips into neutral, revs. I'll adjust the shifter a few times and goes back in. Its not my daily, but getting worse.

48k miles on her. I'm gonna try and swap out the safety switch, but it looks like a real mutha F er to get off.

Anyone got any hints on the getting the switch off. Ive been on youtube, and all struggle. Someone used a plumbers removal tool with decent success.

150$ and a lot of F bombs to do it myself, or 850 at the dealer... I'm gonna give it a go.

you should not adjust switch, there is no adjustment to it, not inside nor outside. hopefully you get it back properly. as of removing switch, here is the tip: wire brush on drill polish all rust from tip of shaft protruding from switch, then us PB for couple of hours. last resort to cut switch with oscillating blade, but it is danger to damage shaft. anyway, I do not know your abilities, but applying excessive force is damaging to shaft.

stephan07 · 03-09-2024, 08:34 AM

Adjusting was reference to the shift lever inside the vehicle...... Good point on the wire brush. Others used a heat gun or torch to melt it off, then clear off the remaining crap.

Heres a good link. will put her on ramps, and wait for a nice day when I have plenty of time.

Heres the best how to I found.

How to Replace a NEUTRAL SAFETY SWITCH on a 2009-2022 TOYOTA 4RUNNER 5TH GEN ( RANGE SENSOR ) - YouTube

Humble Leader · 03-09-2024, 10:10 AM

$850 at a dealer to replace the NSS? what? I paid $500 canada land $ which might as well be monopoly money at this point. that's just under $400 USD (after tax/labour) to replace my NSS 2 years ago

to me that is a reasonable price because those bolts are going to be hard to get out especially seeing you're in east coast area

stephan07 · 03-09-2024, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SlvrRnnR

Have you tried soaking it in PB Blaster? I had a similar issue last fall and (DTC) P0705 code. After suggestion from Vikings Garage on Youtube, I doused it w PB Blaster and erased the code. Every couple months I'll hit it w some lubricant and so far so good. (knock on wood)

I did buy the switch in case it comes back, I think ramps will make it an easier job and definitely a sunny warm day that I feel like patience is on my side (I also researched how to vids and not many out there but plenty of pics of the mangled aftermath having to be ripped off)

3 days of PB Blaster and Mouse Milk in preparation for replacement.....and holy SH*T

ALL is working........cleared codes.......

Thanks buddy!!

premise · 03-09-2024, 12:57 PM

So it came off ok? What is mouse milk?

stephan07 · 03-09-2024, 04:51 PM

Read the above posts....I never had to change it!!!!!! The mouse Milk and PB Blaster must have seeped in, and so far everything is working. I cleared the P0705 code. And it seems perfect. had been an issue for about 7k miles, and got progressively worse. Again, not my daily. Its a weekend ride.

Mouse Milk....Hard to come by. Need to find a mouse that recently had a liter, and milk her teets......

Kidding aside, best Ive ever used to loosen a frozen nut/bolt.

Amazon.com

kenwilliams0803 · 03-09-2024, 05:05 PM

Many do this to prolong the issue. It always comes back sooner than one would like. Hope you have better luck.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

stephan07 · 03-09-2024, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenwilliams0803

Many do this to prolong the issue. It always comes back sooner than one would like. Hope you have better luck.

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

Oh for sure. I'll wait till it gets warmer out, and replace that thing. The 4 Runner is almost 8 yrs old with 48k miles. Not my daily, but some off roading and lots of beach driving, and lots of salt on the road in the winter. The thing looks awful. What an awful design tho...

SlvrRnnR · 03-10-2024, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan07

3 days of PB Blaster and Mouse Milk in preparation for replacement.....and holy SH*T

ALL is working........cleared codes.......

Thanks buddy!!

Awesome, glad it worked!

As mentioned in above posts I will eventually change mine, doesn't look so bad though just the end of the bar has some slight rust.
Also mine originally acted up after sitting for 3 days in the rain, other than that time its never sat any longer.

The rest of the underside has been Woolwaxed since day 1 and looks new but I never knew about this switch and it being so sensitive to the New England elements. Adding it to the maintenance check list...

Also adding Mouse Milk to the arsenal!

premise · 03-10-2024, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephan07

Read the above posts....I never had to change it!!!!!! The mouse Milk and PB Blaster must have seeped in, and so far everything is working. I cleared the P0705 code. And it seems perfect. had been an issue for about 7k miles, and got progressively worse. Again, not my daily. Its a weekend ride.

Mouse Milk....Hard to come by. Need to find a mouse that recently had a liter, and milk her teets......

Kidding aside, best Ive ever used to loosen a frozen nut/bolt.

Amazon.com

So you CAN milk anything w/ nipples!

fkheath · 03-10-2024, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by premise

So you CAN milk anything w/ nipples!

In the movie "Witness" starring Harrison Ford (yes, that Harrison Ford), Ford has to hide out on a Amish farm when he is wrongly suspected of murder. The farmer puts him to work milking cows and the the farmer says "bet you never had your hands on a tit before". Ford replies "not one this big".

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