How does THIS happen?

[jimeyster]

Working on the radio in the 4Runner today. I had the the center console out. Trying to diagnose the radio problem, I turned on the ignition. Immediately, I head loud clunking from the drive train, and then an alarm sounded, so I shut it down.

I thought that since the covers were off, maybe something happened that made it try to engage the 4WD. I plugged everything back in and noticed I now had a Maint light on. I reset the light and started the vehicle. She started right up, but to my horror, the shifter was VERY loose and the shifter moved through all gears but would but wouldn't engage the transmission. Visions of expensive tows to the dealer and my wife saying "I told you not to mess with it!" danced in my head.

I ripped the covers off again, including the shifter cover and noticed that the linkage was off the shifter! It wasn't easy to get back on, but once it was it all function perfectly!

Any clues to how the linkage would get forced off, other than physically doing it? I wasn't prying in that area.If the battery was disconnected, would I have been able to inadvertently move the shifter out of park and bad things happen when I turned it on??

 

[rokr1292]

When you turned the ignition, was the hvac cluster removed? Every writeup I've seen for removing the center console/dash warns not to turn the ignition with that removed due to the airbag controller connection there.

 

[ghs215]

The clunk was because you had the 4x4 selector unplugged. Mine did the same. Cleared the codes and all was well again.