4Lo flashing, bad Neutral safety switch. Who has had this issue?

Found this thread this morning after similar issue happening in my 2011 4Runner, so thinking it's possible my 5th gen has the old neutral safety switch that needs to be replaced?

Got in truck this morning, 4Lo and Four Wheel drive indicator were both blinking, along with the battery indicator on. Whats odd is the battery indicator because I just replaced battery about three months ago. Had the truck for three years now after original owner. I've never spilled any drinks into gear box and original owner seemed meticulous so I would assume they hadn't either seeing as how this is just now happening. I live Phoenix so we don't get cold winter weather, but the condensation issue is what makes me think it's the Neutral safety switch. We had a dust storm last night with heavy rain, so the humidity was quite high this morning with 80deg temp (75% in comparison to our average 5-10% humidity in the summer).

Also haven't put into 4Lo or High for about a year so I'll have to do that when I get out of work later. But wondering if it would be worth having local shop (family friend owned and know mechanics personally) replace the safety switch to updated part anyway?

 

From what I researched when my neutral switch went bad, it's prone to failure on a vehicle's parked on incline. Mine was.

 

I actually did. Took a long time to remove the part-maybe 3 hours? installed new part and was trouble free for 800 or so miles. Now, the same problem is back.

 

My truck is @ shop now said I need a neutral safety switch said it will be about 450$ to replace. Is this reasonable, said that the this part has to come from the dealership.

 

well the new dealership replacement neutral switch ... outside the transmission and the grease/lithium every year !
the rusted steel rod transmission and the aluminum switch corrosion port hole ....

 

Huh?

 

did the lube every year neutral switch .....
the rusted issue !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Gotcha, that’s a good idea.

 

So I took the my 4runner for it's 3rd diagnostic and results are an actuator part is suppose to cost me $1500 and labor cost 1800 $3500 in total smh! Is there any other costs friendly methods to gets this replaced?

 

So the first opinion says $450 neutral safety switch and the third opinion says $3500 to replace an actuator. Which actuator? The ADD actuator on the front diff or the shift actuator on the transfer case? What did either shop do to diagnose it?

 

Transfer case Actuator on 4WD motor

 

I'm having this issue right now. When i turn the 4WD knob to 4H, my dash lights up like xmas. Shop put new solenoids on last year. Instead of me replacing an actuator motor, i went on LKQonline.com and ordered a transfer case. When its not Snowing, I'll attempt to install my newish transfer case and see how it fares.

 

On this site LKQonline.com how much did the part set you back?

 

What are your symptoms? 4Hi not engaging? 4Lo not engaging? When your transmission shifter is in Neutral, does N show up in your gauge cluster?

 

SO THE 2016 RUNNER DID THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TRANSFER CASE FLUID $70 QT..... 50K MILES .....DRAINING IT 1 HR .......
TODAY FEB 2024 FLORIDA THAT THE BEACH ......4WD LOWER DIFF TRANFER CASE ...HA !!!

 

$550. Part was $190 hipping was the rest. ugh 320

my 4wd isn't engaging at all. I know it wasn't my post but I figured id chime in.

 

I am a little confused, The dealer charged you $70 dollars a quart to drain/refill transfer case and then it failed at the beach?

 

Yes the 4wd of that beach , a great job !!!! 50K miles TOYOTA transfer case fluid 70 bucks ..... did my draining NOV 2023 of my house , one hour ....did the quart ...

 

SO the Beach had 4wd, which was a great job. Drained your house in 1 hr. Did the Quart. #Hi5