fangtl

Edit: Forgot to mention this is happening intermediately, maybe 1 out of every 5 starts.

Using the override I can shift just fine and the lights go away within 2-3 minutes. However, there's obviously something misaligned here. Search revealed potential brake switch issue (my tails and brake lights are fine so no issues there), lockout issue, or a park neutral switch.

So I took the panel apart and I am trying to isolate these potential issues, can someone please take a look at the image attached and tell me what I need to do next? I am more of a visual person so if someone can circle the part I need to disassemble or replace that would be most helpful.

chiph9

1. How old is your battery? There are so many computers in these cars, and they're sensitive to voltage changes.

2. My guess is the neutral/park switch and lockout is in the module on the driver's side of the shifter. I've never had it out, so I don't have any guidance. P/N 85903 here: http://lexus.sewellparts.com/oem-cat...X470-2004.html

I would start with the battery - that would be a lot cheaper than replacing the neutral/park switch ($330, ouch!)

Chip H.

fangtl

battery is from 7/13 so I don't think that's the culprit. Also, I checked all brake light and stop fuse under the hood and those are good.

470reasons

I'd look for an ABS problem.

6080prado

Here's another simple check: Check the level of the brake fluid. On many vehicles, when it is low the Brake or ABS light comes on as a warning. I'm not sure what happens on our GX, but I could see it causing other error lights too.

May not be the culprit, but it takes all of 5 seconds to check. I would agree with chiph9 that the battery would be the first place I would look. Check the voltage when it is off and while running.

chiph9

Good point about the brake fluid level. On a previous car I had the float become saturated and it needed replacing. Thirty bucks cheap!

On a related note (but probably not all that related to your problem...) - how old is the fluid? It should be changed every 3 years.

Chip H.

aljodoro

This happened to me while backcountry skiing in the middle of no where and it was getting dark with a 5 miles walk at the minimum in 5 degrees. I don't remember all the symptoms as I was running around like Barney Fife imaging everything. Calm down, think through this. It is amazing how fast you go from this is a great car to I am selling you pig if I ever get out of this.

Basically it was a fuse that had blown. Why I don't know what caused it, it has never done this since. For me other things in the car did not work. That is what clued me to try the only thing I could and that was fuses. I remember calming down, looked at the fuses in the auto manual and zeroed in on some fuses that might be the culprit. I was so relieved when there was a blown fuse and with a new one everything was cool. Maybe you're not a pig.

chiph9

Not sure how a bad brake switch could cause the ABS, TRAC, and VSA lights to come on. Can certainly see how it would prevent shifting out of Park (no signal to the solenoid to release the shifter).

Can you provide more details?

Chip H.

fangtl

can't explain it but appears to be a common issue, see here: http://www.toyota120.com/forum/showthread.php?p=176311

OHeddyB

Changed the stop light fuse and it remedied it!