Transfer Case Shifter Linkage Mishap - Toyota 4Runner Forum

T-Burd · 12-21-2020, 10:34 AM

So, I was under my (not running) 3rd gen changing out a 4WD sensor on the transfer case when I pulled the transfer case shifter linkage to see if it was tight. There was a quiet clunk as my truck shifted from park to neutral and ran over my face (okay, onto my face).

Two things:

1. Wheel chocks. Every. Time.

2. This isn’t supposed to be possible, right? What would stop any random person from pulling my truck into neutral from the undercarriage?

It’s a ‘99 Limited, but I had what I believe was a Tacoma transmission swapped in after my original self-destructed on the highway.

brillo_76 · 12-21-2020, 01:11 PM

Glad your not seriously hurt. The e brake cable... granted bolt cutters can cut that as well. Steering lock would deter some. Like others stated before. If they want the ride bad enough. They are going to take it.

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shadow247 · 12-21-2020, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brillo_76

Glad your not seriously hurt. The e brake cable... granted bolt cutters can cut that as well. Steering lock would deter some. Like others stated before. If they want the ride bad enough. They are going to take it.

Sent from my SM-J337V using Tapatalk

Apparently its not uncommon for Repo drivers to do this in order to drag a vehicle away from the scene without causing an alarm.....

phattyduck · 12-22-2020, 05:32 PM

There's no linkage on the transfer case - though I suppose you can reach all the way up to the top of the transfer case and move the bottom bit of the lever? You'd have to move it down and around to neutral, which would be awkward and each 4WD has a different pattern (if you were trying to steal random 4WD vehicles)

If you are talking about the rod from the gear selection lever, that should be 'locked' in park - but up at the shifter in the vehicle. You can easily shift into any gear at the transmission if the linkage is disconnected.

-Charlie

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