Toyota Repair: Camry P1780, neutral safety switch, salvage yard

Question
Hi Ted,
I have a 1999 camry 4 cy automatic. The rear white
backup lights are very dim when I go in to reverse. I
also get a check

engine light with P1780 code after night driving when
using the head lights, but the check engine light goes
off when I drive

it during the day. I looked up the this code and it
said that it was the Neutral Safety Switch with a very
large price tag of

$369.99.

Questions:

1- In your experience is it the switch or something
connected to the switch which may be simple enough
that I might be able

to take care of and if so how?.

2- If I have to take it to the dealer should I just
have them change it or should I have them check
something else and if so

what?

3- As far as labor goes how much time would it take
them to change the switch.


Answer
Most likely the neutral start switch needs to be replaced, to save some money you may consider trying to locate a used one at a salvage yard then have it installed, the toyota dealer is probably going to charge 2 hours of labor multiplied by the hourly labor rate.