1998 Accord Auto trans 4 cyl. SEL light came on. Code = P1706 Transmission range switch circuit Open.

I cleared it and so far nothing. No harsh shifting or anything else strange.
Checked transmission fluid level and it is normal red and top of the hash marks.
What happens if I ignore it?

Should I go ahead and change the Switch? How long does this take?
Any other advice or suggestions?

 

did a little more homework.. is this what I need to replace?

Import Direct Ignition 10 Terminal Neutral Safety Switch?

 

Any time you get a code for a sensor, the real problem could be the sensor, the wiring, or the computer. You may want to inspect the connector to the sensor to see if any obvious damage was done to the wiring and look at the pins on the electrical connection for corrosion.

 

Ok thanks... will do that if the Code comes up again.

But, did some more research. Is this the "sensor" that prevents that car from starting in Drive or Reverse?

 

I don't remember right now but I don't think that's an individual switch - beginning 1998 I think the transmission is more electronically controlled and it's just part of the communication (PCM-to-transmission).

How do the PRNDL lamps behave? Do they occasionally misbehave? I think they're switched by the PCM rather than a mechanical switch at the shift lever.

 

The RNDL lamps light up like expected. That's the thing, the SEL light comes on once every few weeks for a "cat under threshold". I just clear it.
Been like that for 8 years and never got worse. Then as I was clearing it last weekend, I noticed the 2nd code (P1706).

It's been 3 days now and no SEL light. But if it comes on, I will check it right away (instead of waiting a week or so).

 

Did a shifting test and noticed something. First the SEL light is not on. There is no weird shifting by the auto trans when I drive.

But when I shift through all the gears when parked in my drive way, they light up as expected, but when I shift from D to N, the light "N" does not come on unless I jiggle the shifter, or if I slightly push the shifter forward just a bit towards R.
If I shift from R to N, lights up maybe 4 times out of 5. But D to N, light does not come on.

All other lights come on easily R,D, 3,2,1... just the N is iffy when shifting from D to N.

Any idea what this means? Is it the gear switch/sensor? Is the worse thing that will happen is that I might have trouble starting the car in N?
After the fact, I probably should have tried to start the car in N when the light was off and see what happens.

Anyway... any ideas or suggestions?

 

Yes, try to see if the start/no-start follows with the N light being lit. It might be a shift-cable adjustment? I don't know the automatics too much, but try to see if it comes & goes with pushing the lever a but farther into the N or a bit less far into the N position (if it behaves like that its more likely to be a cable adjustment).

 

Thanks! Will try that when I get home.

 

OK...

1) I shifted it to "N" - light on, car started.

2) shifted it to D, then back to N - no light on. Car won't start.

3) jiggled the shifter slightly forward and the light came on, car started.

So bottom line is all the other lights come on when the shifter is in the "notch". but for some reason even thought the shifter is in "N", light won't come on 80% of the time and car won't start.
So how do I know whether the problem is the cable or the gear sensor on the transmission?

Is the cable easy to adjust or get to?