Difficulty shifting - 2009 Tacoma 4.0L DC TRD Sport - Neutral Safety Switch?

Could use some advice. Wife's 2009 TRD sport with Automatic transmission started to become hard to shift. Initially, I read that a problem with the remote starter can cause this since it is tied to the NSS, and indeed, my wife's remote starter had recently stopped working. I had the local starter place reinstall it and it now works fine, but the shifting problem is still there. In fact, the check engine light is also on now.

A few months ago, I added heated seats, which meant I had to disassemble the inside of the truck, including the console around the shifter, but I don't think I caused the issue as it was a couple of months after that before she started having problems.

having read a few posts here, I plan to pull the NSS and clean it and replace it. I hope to not have to buy a new one. If no luck, then I will have to take it to Toyota for service. I am thinking I should also check my transmission fluid level while I am at it...

Any advice greatly appreciated.

JIM in NH

 

Hi, I've read about 2 issues. One involves taking apart shifter and there is a piece of plastic that guys have trimmed up and solved their problem. When mine gets stiff I just hit the Nss with wd40 silicon lube and it would shift like butter. Search the forum and you'll find the post about the guys who trim some piece in the shifter if the wd40 doesn't work. Good luck

 

Thank you Beerline. The Neutral Safety Switch on the side of hte transmission was very corroded and nasty looking. I sprayed it down liberally with WD40 and then white lithium grease. I'll drive it in an hour or so to see if there is any difference. Before I take apart the NSS, I will order a spare to have on hand since they are not in stock locally. $248 and 2 days from AutoZone. Seems like a lot for what should be a $50 part.

 

Wow. Night and day. Shifts really well since hosing it down with lubricant. We'll see if it lasts.

 

Glad it worked for you. Good luck

 

My Toy Tech told me to hit both sides of the shaft that goes through the transmission when it stiffens up. Find the lever connected to the cable on the DS of the tranny, hit with lube, then find the corresponding spot on the PS of the tranny and hit that. Works like a charm.