High beams affecting transmission!?

2000 Toyota four runner, 3.4, automatic trans. 300000 miles (just broke in!)
With headlights off, just day lights on, shifts fine.
*Turn headlight switch to first position, dash lights show “R” only, no gears indicating on dash when selecting gears,
*turn headlight selector to third position, high beams on and “R” is still showing, it won’t shift out of first gear.
*Turn selector to the off position, day running lights only, works fine, shifts normally.
Any suggestions would be helpful. Last mechanic suggested replacing the headlight/indicator switch module.

 

Is it just the dash indicator that's not working right? I assume the transmission is shifting properly. If so, at 300,000 miles, does it really matter? ,Just know where you've shifted to.

 

No, it affects the transmission. With headlights on, the transmission won’t shift out of first gear. It shifts from park to reverse ok, just when in drive, it stays in first. The dash lights as well are affected and don’t display correctly.

 

Sounds like the switch is fine. Its only on off etc and seems like the lights work fine.

Just guessing but maybe more a clock spring issue

Electrical gremlins are always fun to find.

 

Clock spring? What are you talking?

 

I don't know what the clock spring controls on a 2000 4Runner. But on my friends Tundra it was causing all kinds of electrical issues from ABS lights etc.

You said turning the lights on causes the issues. But I'm going to assume your lights work fine which I'm just guessing the switch is fine in the stalk. Maybe a bad ground or something but I wouldn't throw parts at it especially the stalk if your lights work.

 

Wtf is clock spring?!

 

Heard of google?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clockspring

I'll be honest if you don't know what a clockspring its finding an electrical gremlin like this is going to be fun. It could be the stalk you never know but I'm not a fan of throwing parts at stuff.

Really should get a repair manual and start troubleshooting the wiring. Could even be a bad ground for all we know.

 

“Google?” Ok, figured out what the clock spring is and does. Well, no good answer here so off to the overpaid mechanics. Figured somewhere had the same issue and a resolve.