2003 T4R Floppy Shifter

[VertigoPerformance]

It's pretty easy to take apart.

 

[SPC4Runnergirl]

Old thread, but am having challenges opening up the gear plastic housing..the white plastic on top, have removed it, but the lower black portion that has the gear stick tracks.

my gear cable actuator disengaged from the gear stick assy, am trying to re-engage it, but need access

I too am having a problem trying to get the black piece off and not sure how to accomplish that. Anybody have a solution so I can put a new bushing on my shift cable?

 

[Kemponut]

Before I did this fix, I bought a used 4th Gen shifter assembly for $75. Obviously I did not use it. If anyone would like to buy this from me, it's fer sale.

 

[Kemponut]

This post was awesome, it got me thinking though....what was easier...finding the right sized "bullet" metal piece and appropriate spring to go with that fix combo, OR...what I saw as the original problem in a short-sighted design, was the bullet sits atop the spring and then only about 3/8" in the plastic cylinder. It needs more DEPTH to stay in position when resisting pressure!!! This is the solution previous poster and I recognized. But, I want a 1-step fix. The original design was ok, it just didn't expect resistence over time, I reckon. So, I went to Home Depot, took the "bullet" part with me, found a 1/4 inch thick white plastic "washer-like' round piece that the bullet fit into perfectly. I believed I could plastic solder this washer to the top of the black cylinder that the pin sits in. Went to Freight Harbor and bout $16 plastic solder gun with triangle head. Put the spring and bullet in place, slid the new white plastic washer over bullet, and began melting a small area at the bottom together. Was surprised at the effectiveness of this and strength of such a small melt. Went around on all 4 sides of piece and melted together as much as I could, trying to get it rounded too. I was concerned about the size or thickness of the washer, being 1/4" I wasn't sure if pin would travel properly along the undercarriage. I also pre-trimmed the pyramid shaped plastic where the pin would travel between 2nd and 1st gears. I did this to ensure pin would travel along path with my new design. Worked Like A Champ!!! For less than $20, plastic solder and all, I am tickled pink. Now that thiat's fixed, I have another related issue!!! LOL... ... ...

After complete re-assembly, I have to push down on the Park Shift Assembly Safety Button to the top and left of the gear shifter when in park to get it to go into reverse or another gear. I read this was a fuse issue, but I looked at the 7.5 amp in position #3 and it was fine. Not sure if I missed a connector during assembly or what. Anyone got any ideas?

I have a used 4th Gen shifter assembly for sale if anyone wants it.

 

[Luv4R]

4th gen shift assembly floppy shifter between D-4

Its a common issue.
A very cheaply designed plastic assembly
That a spring loaded pin is what keeps the hand shifter in gear place (P-R-D....) that simply moves the cable thats connected to the trans.
TRANSLATION...
The entire shift assembly is Aesthetics.
Once the cylinder in the plastic housing where the spring loaded pin ruptures the spring pops the metal pin out therefore you have nothing to prevent the shifter from clicking into a gear and staying there worse off this replacement shift assembly is now $1,200 from Toyota.
The custom Toyota off-road shop that repairs and modifies my rig is working on their own custom way of repairing this and it starts with using a longer pin that they get from Australia they're waiting for the part to arrive they will then work on my rig and I will update when it's done the results

 

[AuSeeker]

Its a common issue.
A very cheaply designed plastic assembly
That a spring loaded pin is what keeps the hand shifter in gear place (P-R-D....) that simply moves the cable thats connected to the trans.
TRANSLATION...
The entire shift assembly is Aesthetics.
Once the cylinder in the plastic housing where the spring loaded pin ruptures the spring pops the metal pin out therefore you have nothing to prevent the shifter from clicking into a gear and staying there worse off this replacement shift assembly is now $1,200 from Toyota.
The custom Toyota off-road shop that repairs and modifies my rig is working on their own custom way of repairing this and it starts with using a longer pin that they get from Australia they're waiting for the part to arrive they will then work on my rig and I will update when it's done the results

I hope the new pin work for you, but I have my doubts it will be a cure-all, the main 2 problems are the upper "pattern" plate with the groves that the pin rides in gets worn making it hard for the pin to follow when going sideways and that puts undue stress on the #2 problem the socket the pin and spring are in which leads to the side of the socket breaking.

The only "fixes" I read about are, 1. rebuilding the socket with epoxy and a metal "sleeve", which works but does nothing to ease the pressure from the worn grooves, 2. the sleeve plus filling/building up the worn areas of the grooves with epoxy and recarving the grooves to the original specs.

I also read of another preventative measure which has to be done before the socket gets too fatigued and breaks is to replace the spring with a weaker spring.

IMHO the only real fix would be to replace the upper grooved plate with a metal or more durable plate and a metal sleeve in the socket for the pin plus using a weaker spring.

 

[kpl]

Mine just went at 193K mi. It had been stiff going into low gears for many years, but I just took it slow when shifting, and when going from 4 back to D required a bit of a smack.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to this thread. If I replace the unit with a used one, or just get a new one, will I need to have the dealer reprogram the car or it’s good to go? Looks like a new one is $760.

Thanks,

 

[Luv4R]

I would say don't waste your time or money with a used one that's probably going to come out of a same year high mileage vehicle somewhere and there's no guarantee on it suck it up buy a new one and you'll never have to address that problem again I'm looking at that in about another month about $780 online

 

[kpl]

Yeah, I’m coming to that conclusion too :thumb: plus don’t want it breaking on a road trip

I would say don't waste your time or money with a used one that's probably going to come out of a same year high mileage vehicle somewhere and there's no guarantee on it suck it up buy a new one and you'll never have to address that problem again I'm looking at that in about another month about $780 online

 

[kpl]

Got a new one here as it was the best price I could find. Quick shipping. Got it in with no real trouble. Just put the cable linkage back where it was on the one you take out, so make note of where it was on the old one.

Yeah, I’m coming to that conclusion too :thumb: plus don’t want it breaking on a road trip

 

[MountainBiker]

Impex has the lowest cost, $267!!

I just bought one so that I don't get stranded, as the price is relatively good, $267 shipped from Impex. And we have no idea when Toyota will stop selling these (many parts for my four Toyotas from the 2000s have been discontinued.)

I have only bought from Impex one time before. For the shifter, it took exactly 2 weeks from order to receipt.

 

[MrTom]

MountainBiker.. Was the part you received Factory new or Used?
Thanks,
Tom

 

[MountainBiker]

MountainBiker.. Was the part you received Factory new or Used?
Thanks,
Tom

New Toyota genuine part, as far as I can tell. Impex has been around for quite some time, and I've never seen a report that they sell anything other than genuine new OEM parts. Many parts aren't discounted enough to order from them, but for some reason, the shifter is very inexpensive from Impex, even compared to Amayama and Partsouq.

 

[MrTom]

Thanks,
Tom

 

[AuSeeker]

Thanks,
Tom

If you order a new shifter be sure to do your research on the correct part number, in 2003 & 2004 there are 2 different shifters there's one for the V6 which has a 4-speed transmission and there's one for the V8 which has a 5 speed transmission.