For those who have had broken shifters would maintenance have helped

[Seasparrow]

With the occaisional shifter problems we have here, can those in the know (such as those who have had the problem) offer their opinion on whether some type of mid-life lubrication may have prevented shifter breakage?

1. If not needing to replace anything, is there easy access anywhere for a tube or syringe that could lubricate it?
2. what are the broken parts made of, plastic / metal?
3. Is it friction type wear that caused the failure?
4. where exactly would lube need to be applied, is it open enough to be hit by spray?

Thanks

 

[hankd]

there are some other threads about this but very few people seem to get this fixed and instead use a workaround. does replacing the gearshift assembly solve this problem? are the gearshift assemblies different for the v6 and the v8?

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

I think the early years 03' and 04' V6s were 4 speeds? So they might be different? Can't confirm that though.
Here is what I did with my 5speed V8 because it was catching and hanging up in certain gears. I was lucky enough to fix it before it broke. DO NOT FORCE IT!! if it's having issues. You'll see the part that commonly breaks. This shifter is completely serviceable imho. Toyota says it isn't so their solution is to replace the whole thing. You may be able to source one from ebay or a junk yard. If yours isn't broken and if your careful in your inspection and service, you may be able to avoid the broken sloppy shifter syndrome. This is my build thread which is why you might not have seen it in a search.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2970838-post9.html

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/2970857-post10.html

 

[Seasparrow]

Thanks that was what I wanted.

 

[Piggity]

I found that my metal pin was in the bottom of the shifter assembly and that the plastic part that holds the pin in was cracked. I had forced it so I could downshift fast one day and that's when it became the "floppy shifter". I greased my pin and the track it rides on once I cut the spring down and made a longer pin. It's not perfect by any means (it's still very notchy, especially in the cold) but it works to stay in 4th and downshift to 1st. FYI, mine is the 5spd.

 

[MikeinNH67]

I took mine apart yesterday and found the pin laying where it shouldn't be. That spring is way to stiff for the plastic in there but I guess it did last 17 years and 200k. For now I'm trying a pen spring in there. It is enough to keep the shifter in D3 when needed but really easy to move.