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120 Prado shift lever repair kit
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Originally posted by Irishprado View PostHi
The Shift wont stay in 4th and the shift lock doesn't move. Will this fix the issue
thanks
If the gearstick won't stay in 4 and flicks back to D, then the repair kit will fix the problem.
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G'day All,
I fitted the repair kit to my Prado yesterday, and thought I'd share the experience with you.
My vehicle: 2004 Prado GXL 5sp auto, 175,000kms currently on odo. Have owned the Prado for 5 years.
History of problem: My transmission selector has always worked smoothly and positively from P(ark) down to 3(rd). I noticed a few months ago that it stubbornly refused to go from 3rd to 2nd, but since I never used the low gears I never worried about it. Until recently, that is... I wanted to shift the gear stick out of the way to fit an accessory, and had to apply some force to get it to move into 2nd. Suddenly it gave way, but the selector handle became floppy through the whole range of gear selections. That "Oh, sh!t" moment led me to this forum, and eventually to this thread.
Preparing to dismantle the console: The instructions Andrew provides with the kit are very easy to follow. Even a novice 'no-nothing' car person like myself can do the fix. The fussiest part I found was separating the white plug underneath the console. There's not much room to get in underneath. I used a wide flat-bladed screwdriver to gently prise the male plug out of the female socket..
Inspecting the parts: The plastic moulding showed a lot of wear underneath where the bullet tracks up and down...
There is a step in mine between D and 4 but the original bullet seemed to manage that step ok. There is quite a rise between 3 and 2 (the red cross in the photo), and that was where my bullet was having trouble. At the very moment I'm trying to force the selector sideways from 3 to 2, what I really want the bullet to do is retract into its sleeve a couple of millimetres to slip up that rise (ie. pull its head in). It seems to me that lubrication of the bullet in its sleeve is crucial to getting it to freely retract when sliding over the step and rise...
The original bullet had popped out of its sleeve and disappeared somewhere. I couldn't find it anywhere. The top collar of the bullet sleeve seems to be still ok. I couldn't see any cracks or damage (phew!!)...
Repairing the parts: I used a chisel to carefully clean all the plastic swarf off either side of the bullet track...
Then I used a stiff artist's paint brush to salvage all the spare lubricant in nooks and crannies around the moulding, and then smeared it over the track, and the new bullet and spring...
After inserting the new bullet and spring, I also liberally coated the top of the bullet with salvaged lubricant...
While the console was removed, I took the opportunity to clean 14 years of dust/dirt/fluff off the vinyl jackets, and make it look 'new' again...
After everything was put back together, a test drive showed the new kit was working really well. No more floppiness, and much easier to shift from 3 down to 2 (although there is still a little resistance at that spot).
Future maintenance: As I've said above, it seems that lubrication of the bullet in the sleeve is crucial to allowing it to freely retract when it needs to slide over the steps/rises in the plastic moulding. I'm thinking that if I notice any resistance in the transmission selector in the future, then I should dismantle the parts again and relubricate the track, bullet and spring. Which makes me think that the pin and star washer could be replaced with a suitable size bolt and nut to allow for easier dismantling. No need to fuss about getting a new star washer each time...
Hope this is of interest, and many thanks to Andrew for supplying a quick and cheap solution to my problem.
cheers,
Al.
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Hi Andrew, kit arrived yesterday and installed today. Your instructions were easy to follow and circumvented any problems along the way. Job took less than an hour including some time cleaning out Cape York and the Gibb River Road that had attached under the console! Thanks for the prompt attention.
I had researched an alternative fix, about $500 for parts and would have involved more labour. Your fix is a clever resolution to the problem and I don't see why it shouldn't last for another 200,000 km. Appreciated, Mal.
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