Sporadic gear indicator light operation, Neutral Safety Switch?

[uuuuu]

Hey guys,

My 93 LE 4 cyl auto has an issue with the gear indicator lights by the speedometer. Sometimes they will light up and sometimes they won't. Most of the time, D N R will not light up, but P 1 2 will. If I jiggle the shifter, it will flicker. I did a little research and since I replaced the dash bulbs, I think it is the neutral safety switch (also known as Park/Neutral position switch).





Online, I am finding new replacements for around $200. Not ideal. One thing that is confusing me is this (scroll down to where it says "fits vehicles"). How can the same switch work for vehicles with different pinout/connectors ('94 and later models use pins 2-10, '92-'93 use pins 1-9 and in a different configuration)?

I found this ebay auction for a v6 '92 part for $50. The Haynes manual shows no distinction between 4cyl and v6 in terms of the neutral position switch pinout, so that is a plus. Also, from the manual it looks like the pinout/connector is the same between '92 and '93. But the 'housing' looks physically different. Will I be able to mount this properly in my '93? Is this an easy thing to replace?

Any other suggestions are welcome (maybe I can just pop open the neutral safety switch, clean off some electrical contact surfaces and be good as new!). Thanks

[toyomoho]

Might try spraying electrical contact cleaner into the switch.

Replacement would require removing the shift lever arm. but should be an easy job.

The switch is a rotary switch. For the 1994 Pin 2 receives DC power. As you move the shift lever from P to 1st the switch moves from position 7, 8, 9, 10, 3 to 4 (1st) connecting the circuit to the correct indicator light.

Check out the switches at www.rockauto.com under electrical switch-relay for this make, model, year and compare to what you have. Also compare part number between car years, If the same, the switch should fit OK.

[uuuuu]

Thanks for the reply...

Might try spraying electrical contact cleaner into the switch.

Ok, so this means I can take the switch apart (i.e. take off the housing)? Or do I just spray the plug/connectors?

Check out the switches at www.rockauto.com under electrical switch-relay for this make, model, year and compare to what you have. Also compare part number between car years, If the same, the switch should fit OK.

I checked out prices at www.rockauto.com , it looks like $180 for the part. It's been difficult to find the right part number for any year for some reason. On the webpage I linked to earlier, the part numbers were W0133-1743848, J4050-226795 but I don't know what the two numbers are for (different years? domestic/foreign?).

The switch is a rotary switch. For the 1994 Pin 2 receives DC power. As you move the shift lever from P to 1st the switch moves from position 7, 8, 9, 10, 3 to 4 (1st) connecting the circuit to the correct indicator light.

Right, and for the '92-'93, it looks like pin 6 receives DC power and the switch moves from 1,5,7,8,9,4 (1st). They obviously have different pinouts and a different shaped plug/connector, so how can the switch be marketed as '92-'96?

[uuuuu]

Ok, I think I found the part numbers for the neutral start switch assembly by using info from www.toyodiy.com and http://www.toyotapartscheap.com :

'93 5SFE auto: 84540‑32070 (superseded by 84540-16040)
'92 3VZ-FE auto: 84540‑32090

So apparently they are different parts. If cleaning out the switch doesn't work, I will check the local junkyards to see if they've got anything.

EDIT: I found this thread, it may be useful.