Delayed Engagement

Not really, which is what is confusing me lol. At home there is a “bump” from the concrete pad down to the gravel where I park. The spot in the gravel is relatively level, from what I can see. At work it is all new blacktop, probably more of an incline at work than at home.

 

Do you use your parking brake at home?

 

I’m guessing at how the neutral position switch works here, but I think the shaft that the switch mounts to is not solidly connected to the shift shaft on the other side of the transmission (where the shift cables connect). In other words, I don’t think it’s one continuous shaft.

I think there might be some sort of “clutch” or pre-load spring type arrangement between the shifter side of the shaft, and the switch side of the shaft. And I’m theorizing that a bad neutral switch can have enough drag that it will prevent the shaft from rotating to it’s new position, and ultimately prevent it from engaging drive.

The reason I’m suspecting it works like this, is that often when I shift the transmission into park, I’ll hear a click from underneath that’s delayed by different amounts of time, usually less than a second. I think it’s the neutral switch getting sticky and not completely rotating to its new position. Mine still works, but that seems like stickiness that might mean my switch will eventually go.

If that’s the case, I can imagine that the stickiness might vary from one parking spot to another on something as simple as temperature of the parking spot.

 

I use my parking brake at home and at work, so nothing different.

Im super curious about that switch, it seems like it causes all different types of symptoms, will throw a code, or affect the indicator in some way. I haven’t had any trouble with the above, even had my brother scan it last week with a super high end scanner and it showed absolutely nothing out of the ordinary.

 

^Did you get the fluid changed and level set per service manual yet? If you did and symptoms persist, take it in to a transmission shop for diagnosis. Otherwise the delayed shift could turn into no shift one morning and leave you stranded needing a tow. You don't know what the previous owner(s) did. For example, they might habitually shift between reverse and drive before the vehicle has come to a complete stop. Do this repeatedly over 13 years and the transmission may have greatly accelerated wear.

 

I haven’t gotten anything done to it yet, didn’t add any fluid, check the level, or replace anything. The shop I took it to allegedly checked the level and said it was fine, but who really knows. I still am planning on having a friend of ours check the level properly since he has the right tools, just haven’t been able to drop it off with work schedule last week.

 

My first runner a 2010 that I bought used in 2013 did this same thing and drove me crazy. Don't know how many times I also hit something by hitting the gas before it fully engaged.
Forget now if it was from when I bought it or that it developed later.
Never investigated why it did it but now wish I did just for curiosity's sake.
Replaced it with a new 2016 I still have as I wanted to get new and with KDSS and the delay was also part of the reason.

 

Do they know how to check the transmission level? No dipstick and it's a procedure. It could have been changed and low on fluid if they don't how. Use only Toyota or Aisin WS fluid. Don't mess with filter or someone may already have and created the problem. Always use Toyota or Aisin transmission fluid, antifreeze.