i just noticed today. now the story is i dont know if this was always like this and i only noticed today but i need some input from others to see if its okay or not.

so the shift stick for my auto 3.4L 97 4runner seems to be moving a whole lot when i wiggle with it. i mean i shift gears everyday from park to drive to reverse and what not, but tonight when i was on my way home i seemed to noticed when i wiggle the shift stick around it moves in a circle with a diameter of 1 cm give and take a little (yes i measured it to reference to you guys). i mean iunno it just moves a whole lot more only when i play with it.
before i dont think i recall i could do that. well i mean not as much? hard to explain ahah im just worried if thats a sign the transmission is getting a problem? or can it be tighetened by a screw? or its normal?
i mean i drive my 4runner everyday and work on it almost every week, so i guess you can say every little thing i notice. but please help me with some input if anyone had the same problem or im just going crazy and it does this for everyone? haha thanks

p.s. i also noticed that when the vehicle is in park and i move the stick downwards without pushing the button, the orange indicator goes down far enough that it disappears. iunno if it did thatbefore too. damm i hope its nothing major..
thank you everyone

 

I don't think mine moves THAT much but maybe close... but the selection "gate" wearing some is probably normal after almost 13 years...

-sc

 

selection gate?? but another I should mention is this happened drastically one night

 

I don't know if that's the official name for it... but whatever mechanism "catches" the lever in each position. Perhaps it has worn or broken, or lost a spring, etc...

-sc

 

not sure of the name but I think it is the shifter "pawl" that keeps it in the correct position for each gear selected.

Clearly since you are noticing it you should get it checked by a professional and if this is one of those things you don't want to take to a pricey dealership then you need to find a local Yota expert-like my friends at IRBIS OFF ROAD in Aurora Co for example.

Another fine shop is the Toy Car Cares down in Centennial they are not cheap but very honest and thorough.

I am a manny tranny guy myself but as I understand automatics they have to be in park to start and eventually this may lead to a no start condition if not properly rectified.

 

I've had to tighten the 2 set screws on the shifter handle before. My handle got all wobbly and that took care of it. Don't know if it's the same problem as yours though, I didn't notice if I could push mine down and make the orange indicator disappear. The screws are facing the dash, both on the bottom of the handle,

 

oh okay thank you
im going to try that