Transmission shifting

Been a on and off issue for a few months now.
Shifting into and out of drive has gotten stiff, little D light has not come on.
Sometimes it does not engage the gears unless shifter is moved around from sport to auto.
At the same time check eng and track light are on.

Dealer said fault code is transmission range sensor.

2016 dcsb or with 52k miles.

So I ask the guru's here for insight.

 

I would tend to go with their diagnosis

 

There is a switch that transposes the mechanical movement of the shifter into a position signal for the computer. That is the range sensor they are probably speaking of. Either it is internally tight or maybe the linkage is binding somehow. Was the truck ever in an accident?

 

Other then a white tail getting a closer look in jan of 17, no.
And that was front right corner.
Arb bumper will prevent any new damage

 

Still under warranty?

 

Nope, 2016 with 52k

 

OP, your thread title will definitely set off a few members (some are very twitchy whenever they see "negative" threads).

I bet some will come in here and bark at you without even reading your complaint.

I'm interested however, in finding out what the issue is.

Good luck!

 

I have had the same issue.
It usually occurs after driving in the rain and cold weather and usually corrects itself after driving a few miles.
One time I had the check engine light and traction control light.
I disconnected/reconnected the battery which reset the lights.

A few days ago I got under the truck and took a look at where the shift cable connects to the transmission.
The cable has a nylon bushing with a non removable bolt.
I disconnected the cable from the shift lever and the bolt/bushing assembly felt very gritty. I cleaned it up best I could and lubricated with WD40.
It feels much better now but I am thinking the solution is a new cable.

 

No probs with my 3rd Gen but back-in-the-day I owned a few used shitboxes with the same issues as yours. Usually, the cheapest fix is to spray with liberal amounts of WD40 (or similar products) on the linkages and switches from either underneath, or by removing the shifter console and spraying from the top (better method)....

 

Similar issue here. The problem gets worse as the weather turns colder. Started getting a little hard to shift last winter so I sprayed lube into the cable from top (removed console) and that seemed to work.
Shifted fine all summer, but as the weather got colder this winter the stiffness returned, to the point I could hardly get it in drive. Removed the console again and sprayed lube under the cable boot and did the same down at the trans end... no change.

I read about the Neutral Safety Switch corrosion issue and called the local dealer - had them in stock ($258!!). I got under the truck yesterday to check that, but all I found on the RH side of the trans was the oil cooler system with a 1/2 dozen hoses sticking out of it. While under there I let go the cable from the linkage, tried the shifter and is free as a bird! The cable is not the problem.

Does anyone know where the NSS is located on the 3rd gen? According to other treads on 2nd gen models it was attached to a shaft on the RH side by one bolt.

Sorry for the long post, but this is bugging the 5hit out of me.

 

I think there's been similar issues on here before. Someone even took theirs apart and replaced the switch if I'm not mistaken, or even douched it with lube.

 

Here's a link to another report.
Says the switch is on the right side near the bell housing.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ic-transmission-neutral-safety-switch.652271/

 

So I just got under th truck and I found the switch.
It's on the passenger side up near the bell housing but the problem is its behind the two 1" dia hoses that I think connect to the transmission cooler.
Looks difficult to change without disconnecting the hoses.

 

Thanks all.
This issue only started this winter and I'm the original owner.
Had no previous issues.

 

Thanks Kywoodsrider. I haven't had a chance to get under the truck since I posted.
FYI - while I was checking the cable then, I lubed the linkage shaft as it come out of the case with a tranny fluid/acetone blend which may or may not have helped. It seems to be shifting pretty good since then... might be just a coincidence!
The temperature has been hovering around freezing since, with no really cold days to see if it gets stiff. I'm going to get her back in the garage the weekend and locate that NS switch. I forgot to mention that she wouldn't start back a few weeks ago after a snow storm, not a gig, nothing. Boosted her thinking the battery was low... nothing. Just happened to jiggle the shifter, trying to get it into neutral and presto it starts. So all fingers are pointing at the NSS.
Was hoping to see the switch hanging off the rh side and the instead it's the octopus below.

 

... and now with the pic!

 

That's the trans warmer / thermostat right?


Gawd I'm so happy I don't live where it snows haha.

 

It think it's up higher on the housing and more toward the back.
Should look something like this

 

That looks like the Park/Neutral Switch.

Most likely is that cable binding