RTH: My sister's GX470 - she can move the shift lever but gears do not engage

[Beej]

Hey folks,

I'm an 80 guy visiting here for my dear little sister. She has a 2008 GX470 with about 130,000 miles. She is a pediatric nurse in Charleston, SC; she works nights. For years, as hard as she tries to kill it, the truck has worked as hard as she does with no issues. Between my dad and me, we keep up the maintenance on it. I did the 120,000 service myself including OEM transmission fluid exchange.

She calls me today and says it wont go into gear at all. The gear selector can move through the gears but they do not engage, Park included. When the selector is in Park, the truck will shake a bit. The engine will rev as if it were in neutral.

Is this a known issue? Is the torque converter not playing ball here? I seem to recall that bad O2 sensors can affect VSC and maybe that is playing a part here? I know that VSC light was on when I did the 120,000 service.

What are some good questions to ask her to get more info or some good search terms to get to the bottom of this?

Thanks in advance for any replies!

-- Beej

 

[Beej]

She also had a break fluid flush recently (not done by me) if perhaps this could be ABS related.

 

[RoaringFork]

T-case in neutral??

Or, try locking center diff and see if it moves...

Maybe busted cv?

Good luck!!

 

[HomersCanyonero]

That’s what I was thinking...check the transfer case shifter to make sure it’s not in neutral.

 

[Beej]

Oh my goodness. That is going to be exactly what it is. Thanks, I'll tell her.