What has made my 5th gen gear shifter super squeaky?

Did it pull easy, or was it a punch-yourself-in-the-face kind of thing?

 

Lol that's funny
So no it's not bad just send it, it pops off just like the videos. I've prolly done it 4 times now
Goodluck

 

Hey, I’m a little late to celebration, just wanted to say congrats on getting this solved. I’m still living with the squeak for now, but I feel a little better about getting into the console. This was definitely a good thread, will help a lot of people in the future.

 

Finally! I had the time today to get into the console. Once you know, the fix is easy. Like posted previously, just bend back the metal strip slightly and give it it some white lithium. I also sprayed anything else that moved while I was in there. And it’s a good opportunity to clean up and detail the console parts while you have it all apart. Thanks everyone.

 

I had installed an Ellis Precision shift knob set in my 2023 4Runner ORP. After a week or so, each shift would cause a very noticeable CHIRP sound. I thought of every other possibility before thinking of the shift knobs.

I read this post, bought the grease that I needed, gathered my trim removal set and removed the Ellis Precision Shift knob set. Before I removed the trim I noticed the CHIRP was completely gone. I reinstalled the factory shift knob set. Chirp when shifting was still completely gone.

After a week, Reinstalled the Ellis Precision shift knob set and that darn chirping sound returned. I thought to myself "NFW", sure enough it was the aftermarket shift knob that caused the chirp. The sound was coming from underneath trim, not the knob itself.

The Ellis knobs are machined aluminum and steel. Noticeably heavier than the factory knobs. All I can think of at this point, the aftermarket knobs applied to much weight and tension somewhere in the supporting mechanism, causing the Chirp. This entire scenario was annoying AF and that after market shift knob set was somewhat expensive.

 

Odd. I've had Ellis Precision shift knobs on for two years with no chirp whatsoever. Maybe the Toyota tech who applies the oem grease was having a bad day when they built your 4R.

 

You could try the fix outlined in this thread and then reinstall the Ellis knobs and see if that solves the problem. Honestly it’s not that difficult if you want to give it a try. You don’t even need trim removal tools.

 

Thats just weird.
I have Ellis Shift Knobs on my T4R and never experience any chirp.
As far as the being heavier, my FJ Cruiser came from factory with the equivalent of the Ellis Shift knobs, maybe not quite as heavy , but close.

 

Hey @antimadder Thanks for sharing, that's interesting to hear. Come to think of it I installed a heavier Teton Workshop shift knob and the squeak started sometime after that, not necessarily right away. You may be on to something, that the difference in shift knobs accelerated the grease displacement.
Honestly I bet your squeak or chirp is still the same intermittent issue that I battled then fixed in this very thread.
Goodluck!

(And great work @NOS4A2-1!)

 

I just suddenly got this squeak this afternoon. Opened the console, cleaned it, applied some white lithium grease to the metal part, slightly pushed the part back and no more squeak.
I love when a rattle or a squeak can be identified and recertified in under 5 mins.

Thank you for figuring this out.

 

I'm guilty but eating in one is worst thing I can do.

 

14 month thread revival. @djwantke - just wondering if the fix is still fixed. I noticed my shifter being a bit "catchy", with a bit more effort, going from P to N yesterday with lower temperatures lately. No squeak, but that may follow. I'm wondering if a shot of lithium grease on that detente strip will get my P - N shift back to smooth...

BTW - thanks for taking one for the team on the squeak issue.

 

@glwood54 Hey buddy !
14 months and still going strong, no squeaks or nothing

Yes I would recommend some spray lube from above. And if you're willing to open up the console parts, then do it right, pull back the metal detent strip with needle nosers, and add a glob of grease underneath on the plastic gear selectors.