Well, something must have broken free that holds the shifter in its proper shift pattern and now I have MAJOR sloppiness (94 Runner, 5pd, 150k original miles!).

Basically, I can still shift into all gears, IF I can find them. The shifter moves 6inches+ in ALL directions WHILE in or out of gear. Very ugly situation.

I've looked at the lever seat bushing replacement tutorial but I'm thinking this is much more serious. Maybe it's one of those plates below the shifter seat?

Anyone ever see this problem before?
Any help would be much appreciated -- my wife is itching for a reason for me to get rid of it.

 

I'd start by removing the shifter, jsut check for the bushing and seat then go from there.
mine was pretty sloppy, then i replaced them and greased the bushing and wow. she feels great.

 

I just replaced mine recently (at only 47K, and 16 years). I was shocked at how disintegrated the old rubber seat was, just like in the tutorials. Toyota really dropped the ball on this one. I went with the new marlincrawler hard plastic seat and socket (bushing) and all is good again.

 

theres a small 1/4in nut on the passenger side of the shifter (where it sits in the bushing basically)..mine was about to fall off and i tightened it and my shifting improved GREATLY!

Get the Marlin Crawler shifter bushing (it's only $20..lol) and im sure it'll solve your problem..lol

your bushing probably TOTALLY disintegrated..LOL

 

Shifter bushings are available from the dealer too, obviously, and work just fine.

 

yeah, ive yet to have any problems with mine. I couldnt wait to order marlins haha.

 

Thanks everyone. I've placed my order at Marlin Crawler and should have my parts very soon.

I can't believe that $20 worth of plastic and 1 hour's worth of time is going to fix this problem!! (At least I hope so...)

Watching the YouTube video on their site makes me feel better. Mine definitely moves a bit more, but the problem sure looks identical.

Thanks
- Hopper -

 

I installed mine in about 15 minutes..Feels like i have a new transmission now..

 

Success!! 10-days to get the part and 45 minutes to install it.
I can't believe it, but the original part was completely gone. Only a few flecks of plastic remained.
Works perfectly...almost.
Turns out I'm missing one of the pins that is used to attach the shifter retaining spring. I'm going to live with out it and see what happens.

Thanks for the help!

 

yeah, seems that pin often wears out in the r150 trans ive seen...

Not sure of a good fix for that..

 

glad to know that was the problem