Inhibitor switch

[Cranfield]

I have trouble starting in "Park", nearly every time I try to start up.
Normally, nothing happens at all, if I wiggle the gear lever it sometimes fires up.
I can move it to "Neutral", where it usually starts.

This sounds like the inhibitor switch is faulty.
Toyota are quoting me £190 + vat, just for the part.

Any ideas please, or do I just grin and bear it ?

[TonyN]

I have trouble starting in "Park", nearly every time I try to start up.
Normally, nothing happens at all, if I wiggle the gear lever it sometimes fires up.
I can move it to "Neutral", where it usually starts.

This sounds like the inhibitor switch is faulty.
Toyota are quoting me £190 + vat, just for the part.

Any ideas please, or do I just grin and bear it ?

Is the switch adjustable or cleanable? for that price I'd bin it and do without.

[Cranfield]

Thanks TonyN, I hadn,t considered binning it as an option, but it sounds like a good idea.
I assume that the only difference will be, that I can start the vehicle whilst its in gear, so I will have to be careful about that.
But, I assume that the present situation, where you can,t remove the ignition key, until the vehicle is in "Park", will remain.
That should reduce the chances of starting it in gear.

Are there any other implications ?

[europa88]

Is the switch adjustable or cleanable? for that price I'd bin it and do without.

As tony says it might just want cleaning! Always the first and easy choice!
It sounds to me like an intermitant electrical/mechanical connection in the Park position.

I cetainly aint a auto box fount of knowledge as my seperate posts have proved! But I believe most inhibitor swiches are located on the box it self and as it doesn't affect the neutral my guess is it might be a connection!

I'm not sure but I dont think the locking key will make any difference to the starting in gear!

Hope you sort it, electrical intermitant faults are always the pits!!
Neil

[Guest]

You may find it's just the center console a bit out of line. The stick sometimes fouls on the trim and if you force it it will work OK. The trim around the gear stick is sometime pushed out of place by the center console.

Cheers

[Driver]

You may find it's just the center console a bit out of line. The stick sometimes fouls on the trim and if you force it it will work OK. The trim around the gear stick is sometime pushed out of place by the center console.

Cheers

Hi,
Well worth taking the cover off the center console and spraying the switch with WD40 or similar and I'm sure that you could locate a switch via the group secondhand.