So I’ve got the cv axels out today. Got a shower of atf on my chest, good times. Didn’t expect that much to come out of the drivers side. Anyway…
margate330 said the shifter cable should be easy to find but I can’t see one unless it’s behind the engine on the passenger side of the vehicle but that makes no sense. Do I have I get at it from the bottom? I would figure it would be more easily accessible since the bulk of the transmission housing is on the drivers side. Here is a picture of what I can see and there is no shifter cable visible. Part of me feels that the shifting mechanism in this model is digital and there is no physical cable? Either way I feel like a moron for not being able to locate such a simple component.

then the steering gear and intermediate driveshaft. What am I disconnecting here? Should I take off the bolt that connects the u joint or remove the bolt at the bottom of the u joint to pull out the whole assembly?
if someone could take the picture I post and circle / put arrows so I am more comfortable with this step that would be great. Want to get the drive shaft out but I feel I should take care of these two small things first.

thanks Everyone

 

Hi, I think someone else may have sugested but they are right, it's a cable.
I have a diagram somewhere I'll try to find unless someone else has it handy plz help and post it up.

I haven't done a rack but I know Matrx and Mesquite77 have done it, looks like a real fun job. lol not!
Later when I have time I will pull some technical data on it but as far as first hand knowledge on tips and tricks I have nothin' so I'm not much help. lol

 

I think the second picture above is of the same location you photographed earlier showing where the cable is but if you see there is no cable there. Is it on the underside or the passenger side? That’s a pretty unique looking cable so I don’t think I would easily miss it. I think I saw mattrx’s post on the steering column replacment so I’ll look at that until you get back to me. I took my tools in for the day after putting 5 hours in. I’m about 60-65% done with the extraction process. After i Figure out the steering by gear and wether or not there is a shifter cable which I’m almost 95% sure there is not I can pull the drive shaft move on to the exhaust manifolds and then the motor mounts. Im in a marathon on top of a hill and I can see the finish line at the top of the final hill. It feels satisfying.

thinking about starting a small Mobile mechanic side hustle after this. In my mind there won’t be much I can’t do after I get this done. I am definitely more comfortable working on cars the more progress I make.

 

This is for the RX330.
If you are running an RX350 let me know and I will see if it is the same.

I have no idea where it's located as I am drawing a blank and I'm thinking I saw it when I had stuff apart but may be thinking about a previous vehicle.

Looks like a cable and jogs the park & neutral switch but can't tell you exacty where so if you find it plz post a pic up just for fun so we can see.
Also, it looks like it disconnects with a nut and clip and a plug as a pretty easy peasy.

(posted in fair use for commentary and discussion)

 

RX350 pic, RX330 looks same from above post, trans cable is on top of trans driver side, connects to front on the side:

 

Maybe I’m just a total dingus. But answer this.
from where should I be looking at the shifter cable?above from the top through the bonnet opening? Or underneath the vehicle near where the cross engine support frame is located? I’ve been looking through the top for it and I think that might’ve been my major malfunction.

 

From the top, between radiator and trans, under where the battery and battery carrier (now removed, right?), air box and top radiator hoses were.

 

ok thanks, so closer to the front. I’ve been looking near the steering gear this whole time.

but a friend of mine with more experience than me says i don’t need to disconnect the intermediate shaft from the steering gear or undo the drive shaft if I’m pulling the engine out of the top. Is that correct?

Is the transmission directly connected to the transfer case and if so wouldn’t I need to at least pull the front end of the drive shaft out of the transfer case?

 

You wouldn't need to disconnect the steering shaft if you pulled the engine from the top, but if the subframe is coming out in any way, it needs to be separated. The t-case is connected to the transmission, you'll have to drop the front of the driveshaft out of out, it'll make a pretty good mess even if the fluid has been drained from it.

 

any tips on getting that nut off? mine is rusted and i managed to get the nut loose but now it's just spinning the whole bolt. i'm assuming it's a threaded clevis pin and can't get something behind it to hold it so i can get the nut all the way off. i also can't tell if i can slot a thin wrench behind it to grip the bolt/pin