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From: Susan on 4 Oct 2009 02:08

>>You may have to check the contacts on the neutral start
>>switch.
>
>Okay, I will look for info on where it's located.

I Googled to find it's on the right side of the transmission housing,
and also Googled for a picture of it. I also found this:

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_neutral_saftey_switch_on_a_1991_4WD_Toyota_Pickup_and_how_would_you_replace_it

but it isn't entirely clear to me what he's saying because I'm not
clear on his orientation. Maybe once I start it, it will become clear,
but if there's anything you want to add... ? :)
From: Susan on 5 Oct 2009 00:18
I tried putting the truck in neutral and starting... no go. Then back
to Park. No go. Tried jiggling. Same diff.

Checked fuses. All looked okay.

Pulled the relay switch which is in the diagnostics box under the hood
rather than in the kick panel. I don't know how to test it, so there
wasn't much to do, but at least I found it. Will Google on how to test
that.

Tried following the + lead from battery to the starter motor, but it
disappears into the engine and I can't see where it goes. Looked
underneath the carriage to try to spot the starter, and I have no
clue. I also couldn't find the neutral switch, because I don't know
what the transmission housing looks like. I thought maybe I could
figure it out, but... I *thought* I knew what the TH housing was, but
could not see a neutral switch on it (juding from pictures of NSs I
found).

This seems electrical since it went all at once and I was not having
problems before. I am hoping it's simple, like the relay switch!
From: Jeff on 5 Oct 2009 00:31
Susan wrote:
>>> You may have to check the contacts on the neutral start
>>> switch.
>> Okay, I will look for info on where it's located.
>
> I Googled to find it's on the right side of the transmission housing,
> and also Googled for a picture of it. I also found this:
>
> http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_is_the_neutral_saftey_switch_on_a_1991_4WD_Toyota_Pickup_and_how_would_you_replace_it
>
> but it isn't entirely clear to me what he's saying because I'm not
> clear on his orientation. Maybe once I start it, it will become clear,
> but if there's anything you want to add... ? :)

By "checking the contacts", I believe they mean, "In park or neutral you
should have continuity between the 2nd and 3rd terminals from the right
on the bottom looking into the connector with the snap clip on top."
ibid (wiki.answers)
This would be "on your back, under the car". Not a enticing proposition!

This switch rarely goes bad, but when it does, your symptoms match.
Alternately, the wires going to the switch may have come loose.

But ya' gotta do what ya' gotta do! btw: this switch is very $pendy, so
you need to determine if it is, if fact, bad, before buying a new one.
Or, maybe you'll be "lucky" and have loose wires.

Good Luck!
From: Jeff on 5 Oct 2009 00:36
I just reread you original post. I believe I found a clue, "Alarm
system is off as it should be..."
"...ALARM SYSTEM..."!!!

Aftermarket, of course, with "Starter Disable"!
I would advise to tear it out.
From: Oldphart on 5 Oct 2009 03:25
Susan wrote:
> I tried putting the truck in neutral and starting... no go. Then back
> to Park. No go. Tried jiggling. Same diff.
>
> Checked fuses. All looked okay.
>
> Pulled the relay switch which is in the diagnostics box under the hood
> rather than in the kick panel. I don't know how to test it, so there
> wasn't much to do, but at least I found it. Will Google on how to test
> that.
>
> Tried following the + lead from battery to the starter motor, but it
> disappears into the engine and I can't see where it goes. Looked
> underneath the carriage to try to spot the starter, and I have no
> clue. I also couldn't find the neutral switch, because I don't know
> what the transmission housing looks like. I thought maybe I could
> figure it out, but... I *thought* I knew what the TH housing was, but
> could not see a neutral switch on it (juding from pictures of NSs I
> found).
>
> This seems electrical since it went all at once and I was not having
> problems before. I am hoping it's simple, like the relay switch!

I vote for the alarm also. 1993 toyota 4wd had the batter go dead,
changed it and had to reset the Audiovox alarm with the keyfob and the
pushbutton switch. In my case, taking it to an alarm store to have them
reset the system was costly so I let my son take it to school and the
teenage nerds in his shop class set things right. I vote to energize
the alarm also. It probably defaults to an Open Circuit when power is
cut disabling the starter as part of the antitheft feature.
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