P 1706 question

[Huskerguy84]

Good morning, I am getting a service engine light and code for P1706. I have actually had this code before but I had the Neutral Position Switch replaced with an off-brand part around a year ago. I want to make a note that the when I shift the transmission between gears, the gear selector feels loose and like it doesn't quite line up perfectly with the selected gear. This past weekend I was driving in Drive on the highway and I bumped the gear selector with my water bottle and it bumped it into neutral. I pulled off to the side and put it back into Drive and continued on. That happened about 30 miles before I got the light and code. Does this sound like the part failed or a circuit issue?

Overall, the vehicle still starts, runs and drives fine.

2002 Nissan Xterra 3.3L automatic 4x4 with no supercharger.

I have attached the replacement switch that I had replaced a year ago. Neutral Switch

 

[Huskerguy84]

The only answer that I have received for this question was an Ai answer claiming that it was the transmission cable bushing being bad by the neutral switch. After looking, I was wondering what if the problem looks like it's from the transmission side or shifter end of the cable? I attached a video. play in shifter

 

[Muadeeb]

Apologies for missing this before...

There's a relay also in line with the ECM monitoring the PNP status. Because it's on its own terminals, it could fail while the starting circuit is fine. Could also be a crap PNP switch.



For your shifter play, that looks like the pawls in the shifter body itself are wearing. The linkage was still moving with the shifter, so there's no issue on the inside. Been a while since I've had the truck, so I _think_ it's a solid linkage to the transmission.

 

[Huskerguy84]

@Muadeeb Here is a photo of my relays. Is this normal to have a jumper wire in the place of the relay?

 

[Muadeeb]

No. Not at all. That's a "I don't trust this relay, so it's always going to be closed" kinda fix. Or an "I'm always in Park or Neutral so I can start in Drive" kinda fix. And that is the root cause of the code:

Malfunction is detected when the signal of the park/neutral position
(PNP) switch is not changed in the process of engine starting and
driving.


Replace the relay, and that should clear the code. This _should_ be the correct one https://www.autozone.com/p/duralast-hvac-blower-motor-relay-20228/412166?searchText=relay but they have two somewhat conflicting pics on the site. Terminals are labeled right in both, but the physical depiction makes me slightly uneasy without testing. It should be the same as the other tan relay in the pic above.

 

[Huskerguy84]

No. Not at all. That's a "I don't trust this relay, so it's always going to be closed" kinda fix. Or an "I'm always in Park or Neutral so I can start in Drive" kinda fix. And that is the root cause of the code:

Malfunction is detected when the signal of the park/neutral position
(PNP) switch is not changed in the process of engine starting and
driving.


Replace the relay, and that should clear the code. This _should_ be the correct one https://www.autozone.com/p/duralast-hvac-blower-motor-relay-20228/412166?searchText=relay but they have two somewhat conflicting pics on the site. Terminals are labeled right in both, but the physical depiction makes me slightly uneasy without testing. It should be the same as the other tan relay in the pic above.

Okay, thank you. This wiring has been like this since I purchased the vehicle and started attempting to clear all the codes. I had transmission problems that I posted about a long time ago. A transmission mechanic fixed most of those issues and I didn't have any codes for about year until this (besides an 02 sensor code.) Anyways, I will purchase the relay and see what happens.