Need some knowledge about a shifter :).

Spaul121990

Spaul121990

New member
First things first. THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATORS FOR GIVING ME ACCESS.

Now i need your help people. I have a 2004 4runner with 144.xxx miles, V8. Runs, looks, feels great. Problem is that the shift lever will NOT go passed D (drive) into lower gears. Did not take it to a michanic or a dealer yet, decided to ask around first. And like i said, runs great, no shifting problems in transmission.

I hope i get some anwsers, this is my first post.

Thank you all in advance.
 
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Yup, it goes stiff, then it jams, then it goes all floppy. Err, I'm talking about shifters here ... this is a common mechanical problem with a guide pin that provides the "detent" between the gear positions. See here:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/60082-2003-toyota-4runner-floppy-shifter.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/216109-screwed-up-my-auto-shifter-loose-floppy.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/168067-2003-shift-problem.html

Auto shifter just got loose - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
 
Mine feels like there is zero pressure or spring to it as of lately. I'm just. Ring extra cautious when shifting now....can't afford a break like this....
 
Mine is very stiff when I go to 4. however, going back to D is no problem. Every other gear is fine.

A pin heh? Ok, will look into that.
 
I've noticed this problem lately, but mine is being caused by the plastic slide around the shifter neck getting caught up inside of the center console, preventing me from shifting backwards past Drive. I've taken the console apart several times and can not figure out a way to keep it from getting caught up. While the previous cases sound more mechanical in nature than my issue, might be something to look at.


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JpAdct said:
I've noticed this problem lately, but mine is being caused by the plastic slide around the shifter neck getting caught up inside of the center console, preventing me from shifting backwards past Drive. I've taken the console apart several times and can not figure out a way to keep it from getting caught up. While the previous cases sound more mechanical in nature than my issue, might be something to look at.


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Click to expand...

This is what I was about to ask, typically the more common failure I have seen is the black "shield" that slips under the faceplate of the shifter assembly to prevent debris from falling in. People spill crap on it and it gets sticky, or they jam the shifter once or two too hard and it warps. Then binds up and the shifter doesn't want to move because all that plastic bunches up.

It's easy to fix if you take apart the shifter assembly and order a new shield.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
This is what I was about to ask, typically the more common failure I have seen is the black "shield" that slips under the faceplate of the shifter assembly to prevent debris from falling in. People spill crap on it and it gets sticky, or they jam the shifter once or two too hard and it warps. Then binds up and the shifter doesn't want to move because all that plastic bunches up.



It's easy to fix if you take apart the shifter assembly and order a new shield.
Click to expand...



I'll have to look into this myself, thanks. I don't use the lower gears enough to remember I have a problem. But when the day comes that I do need it, I'll be up the creek if I can't.


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BlackWorksInc said:
This is what I was about to ask, typically the more common failure I have seen is the black "shield" that slips under the faceplate of the shifter assembly to prevent debris from falling in. People spill crap on it and it gets sticky, or they jam the shifter once or two too hard and it warps. Then binds up and the shifter doesn't want to move because all that plastic bunches up.

It's easy to fix if you take apart the shifter assembly and order a new shield.
Click to expand...

Care the throw that part # up?
 
Spaul121990 said:
First things first. THANKS TO THE ADMINISTRATORS FOR GIVING ME ACCESS.

Now i need your help people. I have a 2004 4runner with 144.xxx miles, V8. Runs, looks, feels great. Problem is that the shift lever will NOT go passed D (drive) into lower gears. Did not take it to a michanic or a dealer yet, decided to ask around first. And like i said, runs great, no shifting problems in transmission.

I hope i get some anwsers, this is my first post.

Thank you all in advance.
Click to expand...

I had an 04 GX470 that had the same problem. It would not move past drive into the lower forward gears. It ended up that it was just stuck from not being used. Pull the lever to the left and give it a good hard pull backwards. I was very surprised at how much force it took to move it. I am not saying that this is your problem, but it's possible. It takes a good amount of force to pull it back. Let me know ..

Thanks,

JR
 
Whew. Glad to know this is a common issue and not just mine. My shifter binds going into 4th and 2nd. I found giving it a firm quick tug does the trick but I am about to take the console off for another project and I will check the pin and shield to see which is the culprit here. I use the shifter all the time when towing or coming down an incline (which is all the time living in the foot hills here in Albuquerque).

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk
 
Thanks to everyone for replies with solutions and experiences, really short on time to visit more often. I did see the links to parts so ill start looking into that.

Thanks again, and happy hollidays :).
 
I see that Vanion2 said sometimes force could be the solution. So now im thinking, if i force it and it breaks and becomes loose and floppy like ukbloke said, is it still operatble when loose? Or should i get the parts first and try my luck?
 
I'm a little late to the party here, just realizing that my '03 5-speed has the same issue.

I have not done extensive research to verify, but I think I did observe that this problem is limited to 2003 and 2004 trucks, regardless of 4 or 5 speed.

2 questions:

1) Was a part improved in 2005 and beyond that solved this issue, and

2) Is the known solution to remove 1/8" of the pin spring? The other threads I've found sort of drift off and never really state "This is The Solution"

Thanks
Newbie Murph
 
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