PLEASE Help!!! Changed my shifter plate 99 Landcruiser....and now I cannot remove the ignition key. Changing the worn shift indicator plate required removal of shifter, which meant depressing the shifter release button (top right corner under the removable tab) and pulling out the shift handle... Which means the left release knob with spring will pop out ....all good after reattaching the Overdrive wires .. .it shifts into Neutral, Reverse and Drive ....it starts as normal, except the key will not release. If you see my photo, the lever under the manual shift release button appears to be making contact.....don't know if that has any impact in triggering a key release.....I also noticed the red plastic piece, inside the shift lever has a spring mechanism, it appears to screw in and out....it was turned in both directions to test if it makes a difference....so far the only thing that works to release the key, is to disconnect the battery....then they key releases freely. I am guessing nothing is broken, but I am missing something small or caused a problem during reassembly. The truck is dead until I can figure this out.....Any help is GREATLY Appreciated!!!
8/27 Update with a Fix! Sharing lessons learned. First Thanks to all that contribute so much knowledge....but in my case it was so simple, but hard to diagnose....I am no technician and so spent hours pouring over so many comments and videos.... Steering lock? OK! Ignition switch? OK (releases perfect when battery is disconnected). Linkage adjustment underneath....Nope, not needed.....Shifter knows position of Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive....Yes, just Perfect. Starts? Yes. Drives? Yes.....The Manual Shifter Release Button works? Yes. The Gear lock, from Park to Reverse Works? NO!!! In fact all gears can be engaged.....The button on the left side of the shift handle needs to be depressed to shift? NO!!! ......so I tried over and over to turn the red (see photo) trigger (which sits inside the shifter knob) clock wise and counter clockwise. .....over and over in numerous positions....each time reattaching the leather shift knob.....it would not work .....then I tried with the shift knob off....and Walla, it worked. It locked the shifter and released the key.....kept thinking it had something to do with the electronic module that sends a trigger signal from the shifter to the ignition lock release ....in the end after hours of trial and error and reading more forum Q&A .....it was stupid - simple. There was too much wire bunched inside the shifter, somehow sitting on top of the red trigger, causing the red trigger (and gold spring) to not contact the release solenoid below......so if you go back to the top.....the shifter gets removed in order to replace the shift indicator plate or when you have the shift lever leather redone......be careful, pull the O/D (Overdrive) wires all the way down ....it's easy too miss, because there are two wires inside the protective sleeve and it's a super tight fit. Although, I solved my own problem....I thought it is important to share my lesson with others....to hopefully help someone else in need. Be Well my Cruiser Friends.
8/27 Update with a Fix! Sharing lessons learned. First Thanks to all that contribute so much knowledge....but in my case it was so simple, but hard to diagnose....I am no technician and so spent hours pouring over so many comments and videos.... Steering lock? OK! Ignition switch? OK (releases perfect when battery is disconnected). Linkage adjustment underneath....Nope, not needed.....Shifter knows position of Park, Reverse, Neutral and Drive....Yes, just Perfect. Starts? Yes. Drives? Yes.....The Manual Shifter Release Button works? Yes. The Gear lock, from Park to Reverse Works? NO!!! In fact all gears can be engaged.....The button on the left side of the shift handle needs to be depressed to shift? NO!!! ......so I tried over and over to turn the red (see photo) trigger (which sits inside the shifter knob) clock wise and counter clockwise. .....over and over in numerous positions....each time reattaching the leather shift knob.....it would not work .....then I tried with the shift knob off....and Walla, it worked. It locked the shifter and released the key.....kept thinking it had something to do with the electronic module that sends a trigger signal from the shifter to the ignition lock release ....in the end after hours of trial and error and reading more forum Q&A .....it was stupid - simple. There was too much wire bunched inside the shifter, somehow sitting on top of the red trigger, causing the red trigger (and gold spring) to not contact the release solenoid below......so if you go back to the top.....the shifter gets removed in order to replace the shift indicator plate or when you have the shift lever leather redone......be careful, pull the O/D (Overdrive) wires all the way down ....it's easy too miss, because there are two wires inside the protective sleeve and it's a super tight fit. Although, I solved my own problem....I thought it is important to share my lesson with others....to hopefully help someone else in need. Be Well my Cruiser Friends.
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