2000 RX300 has no shifting on gear shift on automatic shift lever
11-02-12, 02:58 PM
#1
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
2000 RX300 has no shifting on gear shift on automatic shift lever
HI,
I pulled into a friend's driveway to drop off a CD. I didn't stop the engine, but just put it in park (automatic tranny) and put the emergency brake on. When I walked around the back of the vehicle, I noticed the reverse lights were on. So I get back in the driver's seat and I can see it's in the Park position. So I move it down out of park, then neutral and it seemed to click in there as normal, then I moved it down through the other selections, but it didn't go into any gear. It feels like the shift lever isn't conncted to anything. Now, it just moves freely all the way down and all the way back up to Park. However, it is not going into park, because it will still drift backwards.
Is this cable controlled shifter? Any ideas what broke? I crawled underneath, but see no linkage or cable from there. I have the factory manual to assist in the repair, but not home yet to review. Is this DIY fixable?
Help! Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Brcobrem
I pulled into a friend's driveway to drop off a CD. I didn't stop the engine, but just put it in park (automatic tranny) and put the emergency brake on. When I walked around the back of the vehicle, I noticed the reverse lights were on. So I get back in the driver's seat and I can see it's in the Park position. So I move it down out of park, then neutral and it seemed to click in there as normal, then I moved it down through the other selections, but it didn't go into any gear. It feels like the shift lever isn't conncted to anything. Now, it just moves freely all the way down and all the way back up to Park. However, it is not going into park, because it will still drift backwards.
Is this cable controlled shifter? Any ideas what broke? I crawled underneath, but see no linkage or cable from there. I have the factory manual to assist in the repair, but not home yet to review. Is this DIY fixable?
Help! Any ideas will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Brcobrem
Last edited by Brcobrem; 11-02-12 at 03:01 PM.
05-08-13, 02:37 PM
#2
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
They say . . . "Nothing like self service" and "Better late than never".
To that end . . .
NHSTA Complaint Confirmation Number (ODI Number) 10509921 is filed.
For details, go to
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID
In the "Safety Issues by NHTSA ID" box, put a check in Complaints, then input 10509921, and hit the GO button.
I put the pictures mentioned in the Complaint up on Skydrive. In the Complaint I needed to use the "shortened" version of the Skydrive URL due to space limitations. Turns out that the NHSTA converts all text to uppercase when the complaint is uploaded to their database. That broke the Skydrive URL link in the Complaint.
Here is a new (non-shortened) link that works with upper or lower case:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...Du7BFRvkaumDok
As I mentioned in the complaint, it takes only minutes to do perform this critical safety corrective action (once you have fabricated the shim and bought the E-Clip). Unfortunately, I didn't know that the "U" shaped plastic wood-grain console trim could be easily removed without disassembling the entire left and right side dash and console. I have 90 detailed pics of that disassembly that took me half a day to accomplish (without breaking things). Fabricating the shim took about an hour. Since Lexus does not care sell the shim to correct their broken cable retainer (or acknowledge that there is a problem), I will be happy to sell them my fab pics and specifications upon request.
Btw, I've just uploaded a couple bonus pics for the forum to the above URL. I used some very thin cloth over that paint scraper blade to avoid scratching the finishes. In Skydrive, if you click on any of the pics, you get the enlarged version. You'll see that I used detailed filenames where you'll glean more information.
I think I recall it was Zig Ziggler who once said that a single dissatisfied customer costs you about twenty customers down the line.
Regards,
Brcobrem
To that end . . .
NHSTA Complaint Confirmation Number (ODI Number) 10509921 is filed.
For details, go to
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID
In the "Safety Issues by NHTSA ID" box, put a check in Complaints, then input 10509921, and hit the GO button.
I put the pictures mentioned in the Complaint up on Skydrive. In the Complaint I needed to use the "shortened" version of the Skydrive URL due to space limitations. Turns out that the NHSTA converts all text to uppercase when the complaint is uploaded to their database. That broke the Skydrive URL link in the Complaint.
Here is a new (non-shortened) link that works with upper or lower case:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resi...Du7BFRvkaumDok
As I mentioned in the complaint, it takes only minutes to do perform this critical safety corrective action (once you have fabricated the shim and bought the E-Clip). Unfortunately, I didn't know that the "U" shaped plastic wood-grain console trim could be easily removed without disassembling the entire left and right side dash and console. I have 90 detailed pics of that disassembly that took me half a day to accomplish (without breaking things). Fabricating the shim took about an hour. Since Lexus does not care sell the shim to correct their broken cable retainer (or acknowledge that there is a problem), I will be happy to sell them my fab pics and specifications upon request.
Btw, I've just uploaded a couple bonus pics for the forum to the above URL. I used some very thin cloth over that paint scraper blade to avoid scratching the finishes. In Skydrive, if you click on any of the pics, you get the enlarged version. You'll see that I used detailed filenames where you'll glean more information.
I think I recall it was Zig Ziggler who once said that a single dissatisfied customer costs you about twenty customers down the line.
Regards,
Brcobrem
Last edited by Brcobrem; 05-08-13 at 04:27 PM.
04-22-15, 11:09 AM
#3
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
A forum member tried to contact me 7 months ago and I totally missed that message. As restitution, please allow me attach a how-to pictorial titled "2000 Lexus RX300 Tranny Shift Cable Bushing Re-Engineer.pdf" . Perhaps this will help someone else in a more timely manner.
Regards . . .
Regards . . .
Last edited by Brcobrem; 04-23-15 at 07:38 AM.
04-22-15, 10:42 PM
#4
A forum member tried to contact me 7 months ago and I totally missed that message. As restitution, please allow me attach a how-to pictorial titled "2000 Lexus RX300 Tranny Shift Cable Bushing Re-Engineer.pdf" . Perhaps this will help someone else in a more timely manner.
Regards . . .
Regards . . .
04-22-15, 11:06 PM
#5
Moderator
Nice solution.
Please keep us posted over years/months.
Also add a link in the DIY sticky to this thread.
Salim
Please keep us posted over years/months.
Also add a link in the DIY sticky to this thread.
Salim
04-23-15, 07:36 AM
#6
Pit Crew
Thread Starter
Hi maxSteel and salimshah,
Thank you both for the kudos and kind words. The critical point to know here is that when that black plastic/nylon OEM bushing fails by coming into pieces, that allows the transmission shift cable to come off of the shift lever shaft. There's is no EOM E-clip or other safety measure to prevent the cable from coming completely off the shaft.
If you notice in the picture <now> titled "3 – Back out of driveway, try to put it in Drive . . .", you see that the cable's end hoop/ring, is effectively off the end of the shift lever's shaft. Had the cable mount/harness been designed to align correctly with the shaft, there would be a sloppy feel when the OEM bushing fails, but the cable would most likely remain on the shaft and functional enough to work until the proper safety upgrade could be effected. My safety upgrade was re-engineering the bushing with a better material, and the addition of a securely fastened E-clip.
I am pleased to think daily about the general high quality this vehicle. But what dumbfounds me is that as of this date, Lexus chooses to ignore this particular problem, and continues to sell a defective replacement part with a known safety issue. My only consolation on this topic is that everyone who has this problem goes to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues, click on "ID Number" near the bottom of the blue box in the middle pane, check the box for complaints, enter 10509921, review my complaint, and then file a similar complaint.
I should also mention that this job can be done in less than 1/2 hour. I unnecessarily disassembled the lower front of the interior to get to the shaft and cable hoop. In retrospect, all that was needed was to pop off the center console's faux wood grain panel. So . . . today I updated the above pdf to reflect that procedure and also added some more mm and inch dimensions to the hand made part.
Regards . . .
Thank you both for the kudos and kind words. The critical point to know here is that when that black plastic/nylon OEM bushing fails by coming into pieces, that allows the transmission shift cable to come off of the shift lever shaft. There's is no EOM E-clip or other safety measure to prevent the cable from coming completely off the shaft.
If you notice in the picture <now> titled "3 – Back out of driveway, try to put it in Drive . . .", you see that the cable's end hoop/ring, is effectively off the end of the shift lever's shaft. Had the cable mount/harness been designed to align correctly with the shaft, there would be a sloppy feel when the OEM bushing fails, but the cable would most likely remain on the shaft and functional enough to work until the proper safety upgrade could be effected. My safety upgrade was re-engineering the bushing with a better material, and the addition of a securely fastened E-clip.
I am pleased to think daily about the general high quality this vehicle. But what dumbfounds me is that as of this date, Lexus chooses to ignore this particular problem, and continues to sell a defective replacement part with a known safety issue. My only consolation on this topic is that everyone who has this problem goes to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues, click on "ID Number" near the bottom of the blue box in the middle pane, check the box for complaints, enter 10509921, review my complaint, and then file a similar complaint.
I should also mention that this job can be done in less than 1/2 hour. I unnecessarily disassembled the lower front of the interior to get to the shaft and cable hoop. In retrospect, all that was needed was to pop off the center console's faux wood grain panel. So . . . today I updated the above pdf to reflect that procedure and also added some more mm and inch dimensions to the hand made part.
Regards . . .
The following users liked this post:
samasaurus (01-15-17)
04-23-15, 09:36 AM
#7
Excellent photos and write up. You explained it so that even I could do it lol.
I don't have that problem now but might just pop off that woodgrain panel just to check it. Would hate to be on a trip and have a failure with the shifter. With my luck, it sure wouldn't happen in my driveway.
I'll lube up the sleeve if there is nothing wrong while I'm there.
Do you have other DIY write ups? If so, please post them.
Alan
I don't have that problem now but might just pop off that woodgrain panel just to check it. Would hate to be on a trip and have a failure with the shifter. With my luck, it sure wouldn't happen in my driveway.
I'll lube up the sleeve if there is nothing wrong while I'm there.
Do you have other DIY write ups? If so, please post them.
Alan
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04-23-15, 09:49 AM
#8
Racer
Indeed! this is a very good write up on this issue. I just hope I dont have that happen to me anytime soon!. I dont think it will happen anytime soon to me but then again ya just never know when it could happen.
04-23-15, 09:50 AM
#9
Racer
Hi maxSteel and salimshah,
Thank you both for the kudos and kind words. The critical point to know here is that when that black plastic/nylon OEM bushing fails by coming into pieces, that allows the transmission shift cable to come off of the shift lever shaft. There's is no EOM E-clip or other safety measure to prevent the cable from coming completely off the shaft.
If you notice in the picture <now> titled "3 – Back out of driveway, try to put it in Drive . . .", you see that the cable's end hoop/ring, is effectively off the end of the shift lever's shaft. Had the cable mount/harness been designed to align correctly with the shaft, there would be a sloppy feel when the OEM bushing fails, but the cable would most likely remain on the shaft and functional enough to work until the proper safety upgrade could be effected. My safety upgrade was re-engineering the bushing with a better material, and the addition of a securely fastened E-clip.
I am pleased to think daily about the general high quality this vehicle. But what dumbfounds me is that as of this date, Lexus chooses to ignore this particular problem, and continues to sell a defective replacement part with a known safety issue. My only consolation on this topic is that everyone who has this problem goes to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues, click on "ID Number" near the bottom of the blue box in the middle pane, check the box for complaints, enter 10509921, review my complaint, and then file a similar complaint.
I should also mention that this job can be done in less than 1/2 hour. I unnecessarily disassembled the lower front of the interior to get to the shaft and cable hoop. In retrospect, all that was needed was to pop off the center console's faux wood grain panel. So . . . today I updated the above pdf to reflect that procedure and also added some more mm and inch dimensions to the hand made part.
Regards . . .
Thank you both for the kudos and kind words. The critical point to know here is that when that black plastic/nylon OEM bushing fails by coming into pieces, that allows the transmission shift cable to come off of the shift lever shaft. There's is no EOM E-clip or other safety measure to prevent the cable from coming completely off the shaft.
If you notice in the picture <now> titled "3 – Back out of driveway, try to put it in Drive . . .", you see that the cable's end hoop/ring, is effectively off the end of the shift lever's shaft. Had the cable mount/harness been designed to align correctly with the shaft, there would be a sloppy feel when the OEM bushing fails, but the cable would most likely remain on the shaft and functional enough to work until the proper safety upgrade could be effected. My safety upgrade was re-engineering the bushing with a better material, and the addition of a securely fastened E-clip.
I am pleased to think daily about the general high quality this vehicle. But what dumbfounds me is that as of this date, Lexus chooses to ignore this particular problem, and continues to sell a defective replacement part with a known safety issue. My only consolation on this topic is that everyone who has this problem goes to http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchSafetyIssues, click on "ID Number" near the bottom of the blue box in the middle pane, check the box for complaints, enter 10509921, review my complaint, and then file a similar complaint.
I should also mention that this job can be done in less than 1/2 hour. I unnecessarily disassembled the lower front of the interior to get to the shaft and cable hoop. In retrospect, all that was needed was to pop off the center console's faux wood grain panel. So . . . today I updated the above pdf to reflect that procedure and also added some more mm and inch dimensions to the hand made part.
Regards . . .
04-26-15, 06:09 PM
#10
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A forum member tried to contact me 7 months ago and I totally missed that message. As restitution, please allow me attach a how-to pictorial titled "2000 Lexus RX300 Tranny Shift Cable Bushing Re-Engineer.pdf" . Perhaps this will help someone else in a more timely manner.
Regards . . .
Regards . . .
04-29-15, 05:36 AM
#11
Moderator
11-07-16, 10:51 PM
#12
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I read your complaint. The same exact thing happened to me in rush hour traffic. It was a horror story. Thankfully, nice people stopped to help. I think my bushing may have cracked as well. I have a 2002 rx300. I'm going to use those pictures to show my mechanic as I hope it helps. He put the cable back on temporarily but it will pop off again. I just want it fixed so I can have my vehicle running again. Thank you for the DIY and pictures
12-16-16, 08:47 AM
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The same thing happened to my father's RX 300 last week. I pulled off the dash plate and saw the loose cable. I spoke with the parts clerk at the Lexus dealership and the bushing is part of the shifter cable and not sold separately. How very annoying that they won't sell a easily serviceable high wear part. I temporarily used a plumbing retaining clip that is commonly used to attach the bathroom sink stopper lever to the lift arm. It doesn't solve the "slop" that was created with the disintergrated bushing and required bending with pliers to secure the cable over the pin. I'll definitely do this fix for a more long term solution. This might be a Florida or hot weather issue.
