i have a 91 4runner 3.0 auto having a starting issue, WAS thinking it had to be a bad starter but i am wondering if brake pedal shift switch could be my culprit because every time i have starting prob i have to use the shift lock override button to get it in gear, any ideas or suggestions?

 

Sounds like it could also be your neutral safety switch. Does it start in park or neutral?

 

no, with foot on the brake it sometimes wont come out of park without using override button, these are the times it will only click, if my foot is on the brake and i can shift without override, it will start EVERY time, thats why i am wondering about that circuit instead of solenoid contacts

 

no, with foot on the brake it sometimes wont come out of park without using override button, these are the times it will only click, if my foot is on the brake and i can shift without override, it will start EVERY time, thats why i am wondering about that circuit instead of solenoid contacts

 

The neutral-safety switch inhibits the starter, and the shiftlock keeps you from shifting out of park (and also keeps you from pulling the key out with the transmission not-in-park). They are two separate circuits, so the brake pedal should have nothing to do with starting. More importantly, when starting is inhibited it's inhibited -- no clicking.

But "clicking starter" is oft-times a symptom of low battery. I suppose you could have a combination of problems where the shift-lock is shorting to ground, keeping your battery from delivering enough power ....

I'd put a voltmeter right on the battery and go through the steps you described. If the voltage ever drops below 11.5v or so (without cranking), that will prevent you from cranking the starter.

 

Thanks for the tips, i will check for any drop in voltage, just weird though, really seems to be possibly in the timer in that circuit, powered by brake light switch, which is maybe not directly associated with shift lock, but there is a strange coincidence or relationship of some kind there, makes perfect sense for a v drop to affect operation in a circuit, before i narrowed it down this far i did have success jump starting off known good battery anyway i'm starting to ramble, it is really great to have a site like this , thanks again