D light not coming on

Today started with the check engine light and trac off light coming on AND when in D the D light out (but N and P were on appropriately).

I read suggestions and redid gas cap and unhooked battery for a while.

Check engine and trac off warnings vanished. Yay!

But still D is off and when downshifting to 4, the S4 light comes on only momentarily, then is off.

Any ideas on how to fix this? We're going on an 800 mile trip in 1.5 weeks, so want this gone or at least feel comfortable the situation won't go south!

Peter
2015 TRD Pro, 90K miles

 

Sounds like a transmission range sensor issue. Read the code to see what's triggering the CEL.

 

"Any ideas on how to fix this?" - change transmission switch. don't park on inclined driveway. check for water intrusion inside switch plug.

 

Isnt this what happens when the neutral sensor/switch goes bad?

 

Is this shown to cause issues? Doesn’t the trans weight rest on a pin that can handle it? As I say that, I’m not sure where I heard it, but my driveway is well inclined.

 

Did you scan it first?

 

if parked on incline and have some difficulty to shift out of park, have to apply some pressure, yes, that means pin struggle under weight, that may affect timing of switching. switch is very stupid thing, just connectors and 12V on between sliding against each other contacts. like all electric contacts, they may burn, oxidized, wear out. I use to jump of the car and put chock under wheel, while in hand-park and N, but it sucks, I mean - parking brake. So I pre-positioned shocks on driveway and "dock in", after that I switch to P. hopefully my second switch will live longer. and more importantly pin not need to be replaced anytime - transmission repairs cost a lot.

 

The parking brake can and should be used to hold the weight completely off the transmission and parking pawl. Especially on a heavily inclined driveway. First slide into neutral, set brake, then slide into park. Zero weight on the trans, and no horrific bang every time you shift out of park into drive.

If it sounds bad, and makes passersby cringe when they hear it go into drive…use your parking brake.

Regardless, If this is your neutral switch acting up, parking on the transmission probably didnt cause it. I’ve heard it’s a fairly common failure. Easy to fix though from what Ive seen.

 

Also check fuses underneath dash

 

I Changed tran oil when I got my 12 runner last month.
And noticed the same thing. Usually if you drive the car and D is not there. I put it in N and D again and D will come back.
My wife took the car and called me saying the engine light and Trac off are on. Told her to drive back home. Came and read few questions. Plugged the battery off for 15 min and hooked in again. The lights are off. And every thing went back to normal.
2 weeks after that today. I noticed that D is not coming on again. Tried the N and D trick this time doesn't work. Trying to drive back home. The gear didn't work anymore. Had to drive with what left of power climbed the curve trying not to block traffic. Engine on/off nothing happen. The car won't move on D,but reverse. Took it back to back ally street. 4 wheels and all tricks, it start to move. D still not there but engine light and trac off on again. About 10 miles drive back home now I noticed that with Rev the gear will slip but no noises what os ever it just feels that the gear just went crazy. Then works again. Until I got it back home.
Now the battry hooked off 15 min, hooked on. Engine track off lights are off. Took for a small drive D doesnt come on for a while. After multiple tries with N/D shifting and 4 wheels. D came back and the car seems to be normal again.
Damn long story but. What the F happened?
It seems electric. But should I drive the car more?

 

Sounds like the neutral safety switch on the transmission. I don’t see how a fluid change would cause this issue unless possibly the level is incorrect?

 

Purchase a new nss and the problem will be fixed for good. Always fun prying off the original since they tend to seize against the trans case.

 

Replace the transmission range sensor aka neutral safety switch. If the switch hard-fails (e.g. P position no longer detected) you won't be able to start the engine.

12 year old truck. Depending on your region, the rust may require you to use a propane torch and chisel out the old switch piece by piece: