Hard shifter lever?

Since I have retired, my 2019 TRD OR is not daily driven. Sometimes it sits for a week or more in my driveway without being used. Here is the problem. The transmission gear shifter is very stiff or hard to pull down from P to R to N then into Drive. This has been going on for a couple of months and if I just keep going back and forth thru the gears eventually it would loosen up.

BUT, now the small rectangular gear selector window on the dash (between the engine temp gauge and fuel gauge) will not light up to "D". It will light up in Park & Reverse but not Drive. I have tried to jiggle the lever dozens of times back & forth (and this used to work before today) very quickly but it won't light up "D" in the window, and the Cruise Control will not work.

Do I need a new "gear selector switch" or is it called a different part?

I have lubed the cable on the drivers side of the tranny, but this does not help my situation.

What part needs replaced and what is the part number?

Thank You for any and all help!!!

 

^The transmission range sensor (aka neutral safety switch) has probably gone bad. Normally they don't go this early, but rust never sleeps.

 

Would you happen to have a part number for this transmission range sensor?

 

^ 8454035061

Surprisingly this is one part where aftermarket from SMP and WVE (NGK) are more expensive than OEM.

Watch a few Youtube videos before you start. Depending on rust level you may have to chisel off the old sensor in pieces. Old goat used an oscillating tool to cut the sensor in half: https://www.4runners.com/posts/701273

 

Hey,
I might be able to help.
1. Before replacing the Neutral Safety Switch, I would spray it, or get someone to spray it for you, with a penetrating lube like rust wd40. Then white grease.
2. Spray your shifter linkage with the same products.

^I don’t drive my 2016 for days at a time, and lubing these areas after years of neglect really helped the stiffness. I went a step further and also greased the actual shifter mechanism in the console after taking it apart.

Goodluck

https://youtube.com/shorts/wK82Pp5KW0E?si=NyPFCQ2XVl-TgBKp

https://youtu.be/q34h9lqlqYE?si=TG3mOd5COUv_hizX

 

Thank You so much for this!!!

 

Thank You also!!!

Is the part to be lubed located on the passenger side of the transmission? (the part with the blue sticker)

 

No worries, happy to help.
yes the NSS is passenger side. Don’t attempt to replace it, it’s a b*tch, and ur 4R is 2019 I highly doubt your safety switch, shifter, or linkage need anything besides lubrication..

 

Today I drove to my local Toy dealer and bought a new NSS after lubing the old NSS. The shifter is moving very freely now, but the "D" light will still not appear in the window. My buddy is putting the new NSS on at his shop tomorrow AM. I will let you know how it turns out.

Thanks Again for all of the info!

 

OK doesn’t look like you factored in your linkage, or the shifter mechanism. Of course the dealer will jump to sell you a new NSS, and new anything and everything possible, don’t trust those monkeys. But it’s your money, and I wish you luck! I feel for your buddy who has to remove the old one. Report back plz

 

I've watched the 4 minute youtube videos on changing this & it doesn't seem to be too difficult. If I had a lift, I would do it myself but I won't do it laying on my back in my driveway. My buddy said it will take about 40 minutes, as he replaced these before.

 

I haven’t watched that video, but from what I’ve heard, of your nss IS rusty, then it’s quite difficult. Goodluck!

 

The NSS (part # 84540-35061) fixed my problem. Shifter is smooth as butter. Thanks for all of the help!

 

And "D" light is back?

 

Yes, Sorry about not mentioning that. The Cruise Control also works as it should.

 

Did you happen to get the old part back? I also have a 2019, and am curious as to why and how this issue happened on a not-so-old model year.

Do you live in an area where they salt the roads?

 

I’m curious too. Is it hard to move the shifter *because* of the sensor? In other words, is the turny thing in the sensor what is getting seized up?

My shifter has been needing a bit more force to move than I want, and it’s been like that for a while. It’s surprising if the force needed to move the shifter is caused by difficulty turning the rotating thing in the sensor.

 

I really believe that it is caused by the salt & brine that is used on the roads in the winter. Where I live in southwestern PA it is ridiculous how much salt they use. Combined with letting the truck sit for days or weeks with not driving it makes the part stick because of lack of use. My 2010 4R did this 1 time when I didn't use it for a couple of weeks in the winter years ago when I got the flu. After I worked the shift lever very briskly back & forth a few days, and started driving it daily again the problem went away.

I did get the part back but my mechanic did have to use a cutter wheel to get the center metal part off of the shaft. He then wire wheeled the shaft and greased it before putting the new switch on.

 

The rotating collar on the sensor (where the shaft goes) must be horribly sealed to get gummed up so quickly. Maybe it’s not even sealed at all, and the round collar is in direct metal to metal contact with the sensor housing. Just the powder build-up from simple surface corrosion at the interface could be enough to gum everything up.

I remember spraying some woolwax on the shaft after reading one of these threads a a couple of years ago, to prevent the shaft from seizing on the rotating collar for when it needs replacement. But I hadn’t thought about the housing to collar interface. Hopefully some overspray got onto the edges of the rotating collar of the sensor to seal it off from the elements a bit.

That said, lubricating the rotating collar could make it gum up worse lol. Now that I think about it, maybe a thick grease coating around the collar would be the better way, since grease probably wouldn’t flow into the rotating contact areas.