[stefanrest]

The shifter in the steering column on my automatic 2001 4.7L V8 is giving no resistance (like when it bounces between gears P > R > D etc). It is just sliding up and down.

Has anyone else experienced this and what did the problem end up being? There must be a part that connects the shifter to the transmission (which is fine) but I don't know what it is called and can't find diagrams or the name of the part in parts forums.

Can you help me diagnose this problem or share with me your story of a similar problem and what the solution was?

Any help would be greatly appreciated - thanks.

 

[soyavenger]

jack mccarthy and i both had an issue with the column shifter snapping off the steering column, if it feels like the shift lever is flopping around in the column this may be it

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/1gen-tundra/220838-help-shifter-assembly-mount-broken/

i also had an issue with a '91 mercury capri i owned, where the bolt on the bracket that held the shift cable against the transmission stripped out, so instead of pushing/pulling the gear selector lever on the transmission, the cable would just flop around.

edit: if it is the issue with the column shifter bracket failing, jack was nice enough to do a DIY writeup on how to fix it yourself:

http://www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/1gen-tundra/226845-diy-repairing-broken-column-shifter-tilt/

if youre like me, too broke to buy parts or shell out the $500 the dealership wanted to fix it, you can do like ive done for the past 15k miles or so and remove the plastic shrouds around the column and manually push/pull the linkage to select the desired gear.

 

[Tash P]

I know this is a couple of months old but I just had this happen to me over the weekend. I have a 2000 tundra with the 4.7L and it ended up being the shifter cable that was bad.

 

[stefanrest]

I should update everyone to what I did.

I pulled apart the dashboard, and the saw that the linkage attaching the ring at the end of the shifter cable attaching it to the column shifter had come off. Either part were actually broken though, it was the plastic clip that holds the two together. It had dry rotted and just cracked into tiny pieces. I was unable to just buy the plastic clip and the Toyota dealer wanted around $350 to replace the cable (which included a new clip).

I opted to make my own part. I slide the male column shifter part into the female cable and wrapped the outside with a wire. That was 10 months ago and the fix is going strong. The column shifter has a little more play in it than it used to, but it does the job and I know it's not going anywhere.