I have put this out to a couple of the Toyota tech boards that I am a member of, but I thought it might stand a chance of getting a solution with some of the very talented techs on this board.
I have an 88 Toy 4runner (my DD) that I installed a remote starter in a few years back. Now I know this is techniacally illegal, but in the NorthEast it rocks to have one of these on cold winter days. I have been getting by with a manual switch that I installed next to my shifter that enables the remote start feature. So, when I leave the vehicle I put it in neutral, flip the switch to enable it. When I start the vehicle remotely the next time all is good and when I get back in the truck to drive away, I flip the switch off to start the cycle for next time.
The problem with this system is, obviously if I forget to flip the switch off the next time I get in the truck because I did not remote start it or whatever reason, then it leave open a window of opportunity to accidentaly leave it in gear with the system enabled. This results in the truck taking off down the street unmanned. Not a pretty site.
The trans has no electronics in it other that the switch that triggers the reverse lights, so there is no way to detect neutral from factory means.
My question is can anyone think of a switch or circuit that I can build that would detect a neutral condition with a manual transmission? I have thought of a few ideas, but am curious to hear what others would do.
My idea that would have the best chance of success in my mind is an array of window cantact switches (like the kind home security systems have on the windows and doors) wired together in series and forming a square around the base of the shifter. This way if the shifter was left in a gear other than neutral (which is in the center) the shaft would magnetically make contact from a ring on its shaft to close the circuit and therefore disable the remote start. There are plenty of calibration hurdles to overcome with this system and thereis very limited space to work with at the base of the shifter.
I have very little transmission internals experience, so I was trying for an external solution.
I have attached a diagram of the components of the trans as well as a higher res PDF the jpeg was made from. Anyone have any ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have an 88 Toy 4runner (my DD) that I installed a remote starter in a few years back. Now I know this is techniacally illegal, but in the NorthEast it rocks to have one of these on cold winter days. I have been getting by with a manual switch that I installed next to my shifter that enables the remote start feature. So, when I leave the vehicle I put it in neutral, flip the switch to enable it. When I start the vehicle remotely the next time all is good and when I get back in the truck to drive away, I flip the switch off to start the cycle for next time.
The problem with this system is, obviously if I forget to flip the switch off the next time I get in the truck because I did not remote start it or whatever reason, then it leave open a window of opportunity to accidentaly leave it in gear with the system enabled. This results in the truck taking off down the street unmanned. Not a pretty site.
The trans has no electronics in it other that the switch that triggers the reverse lights, so there is no way to detect neutral from factory means.
My question is can anyone think of a switch or circuit that I can build that would detect a neutral condition with a manual transmission? I have thought of a few ideas, but am curious to hear what others would do.
My idea that would have the best chance of success in my mind is an array of window cantact switches (like the kind home security systems have on the windows and doors) wired together in series and forming a square around the base of the shifter. This way if the shifter was left in a gear other than neutral (which is in the center) the shaft would magnetically make contact from a ring on its shaft to close the circuit and therefore disable the remote start. There are plenty of calibration hurdles to overcome with this system and thereis very limited space to work with at the base of the shifter.
I have very little transmission internals experience, so I was trying for an external solution.
I have attached a diagram of the components of the trans as well as a higher res PDF the jpeg was made from. Anyone have any ideas. Any help would be greatly appreciated.