2000 Lexus RX300 shifter bushing replacement.

So the other day my wife was backing out of our driveway to go to the store and then couldn't shift into drive.   The shift lever only moved forward and back without much resistance.  It felt like the cable broke.   So we pushed it back into the driveway to get it out of the street.

After I removed the trim bezel to access the shifter assembly, I saw the cable hanging to the side of the shift lever pin.  Still in one piece, just not connected.   After inspecting it, I saw that the bushing holding the cable end onto the lever was broken into pieces.    Not as bad of damage as I was thinking.

I did some web searching and discovered that there was a replacement bushing available.   Rather than buy a new cable assembly, I went the cheap route.   This is our beater car and I wasn't going to spend more if I didn't have to.

So I purchased the BP1 bushing kit sold by Bushingfix.com on Amazon.com $30.00 USD and free shipping with Prime membership.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWDQCR4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I got it in two days.

The replacement was quick and easy.  Only took about 10 minutes.   I could tell which direction to install it.  The video on youtube and on the bushingfix.com website did not show a clear distinction on what direction to install it.   So after watching the video and looking at the pictures I decide to put the notices in the piece towards the shift lever pin direction.

Installation
1 I removed the remaining broken pieces from the shift lever and cable eye.

     

2. I installed the bushing to the cable eye.  One side is notched and one side is not.   I installed with the notched side toward the shifter lever.   I just pushed it in with my fingers.   It was easy.  Just be sure the busing slides all the way onto the pin and has that snap in place feeling.

        
     

3.   I moved the shifter through the gears to be

Honestly, that was about it.  Very easy fix with this bushing.  I have driven around during the day and so far it has not fallen back off or had any issue.

Tools used in this post -  Flat blade screwdriver to remove wood bezel trim.

Parts used in this post - Bushing kit, BP1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XWDQCR4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

(Note - I do NOT receive any compensation when you click the links.  They are for your ease of access only.  )


 Let me know if you have any questions or would like more detail. Thanks for reading.

Airbag light now working.

So I made a trip to a couple junk yards today.  One of the parts I picked up was a replacement circuit board for the drivers display speedometer, from a wrecked XB.  

I decided to install the board from the junk yard car, into my speedo assembly.  Here are the pictures of how it went down.


When figuring out why my airbag light wouldn't turn on , I decided to take apart the cluster to see if the light pattern was in this unit.   It is, I can see the air bag symbol next to the high beams and open door symbols on the left.

After I took apart the assembly I could see a missing LED from the circuit board. 

So I sent to the junk yard and picked up a speedo from a junked XB. 

To remove the cluster I first removed the phillips head plastic pin screw in the center of the plastic bezel. 

The bezel just pulls out.  Its is only snapped into place. 

Remove the 3 phillips screws holding the assembly in place.

Removed the one body connector.  

Tear down of the speedo assembly.

There are 4 screws in the back to remove.  Either a #1 or #2 phillips is needed.  

There are several plastic snaps around the body to un clip for the body to separate. 

Lift up this silver tang so it is straight up.  It goes through the board. 

Pull up on the black body of the ribbon cable, It does not separate just unlocks so don't pull it off. 

Pull out the ribbon cable.

There are another 4 little tangs that hood the board in place.  Pull back the tangs so the board will lift out.  

My old board with the missing LED for the airbag light. 

I pulled apart the replacement speedo in the same manner.  Here is the replacement board with ALL LED's in place. 

Assembly is the reverse order so I'm not going to show all the step but just point out a few things to remember or you will damage the board. 

Notice the 2 wide body connectors on the face of the circuit board at the bottom.  There are micro pins in the other half of the speedo the must align with these connectors.  Pay attention to them. 

When placing the board back in the body, align the micro pins and gently push the connector part of the board in place.   Also pay attention to the metal tang the goes through board and is bent over for the screw hole.  

When looking at the speedo assembly, If the pins mated with the connectors, this black bezel will still be flush.  If not, it will bulge out.  Pay attention and gentle press the pins into the connector. 

This ribbon cable is gently pressed into place and the body of the connector pushed down to lock it in. 

Bend the metal tab over .

With the board being locked into place, the micro pins mated correctly, and ribbon cable locked in and the metal tab bent in place, place the body on and begin snapping it in place. 

Add the 4 screws and snug them down.  Don't strip them. 

Put the assembly back into the car.

I tested the unit before putting the bezel in.  If there was a problem I could find it now.  My airbag light is now on.  Woohoo.

NOTICE THE MILEAGE ON THIS ODOMETER. 

This is not my vehicle mileage, my vehicle previous board had 209K miles on it.  So apparently, the memory for the milage is in the speedo circuit board assembly.  I was thinking it was in the body or vehicle ECU.   Now i have to remember that the current mileage is 35k more than my actual mileage.  

If anyone knows how to update this please let me know.  For now I'm just going to leave it. 

Tools used in this post -

Parts used in this post -
Junk yard circuit board.



 Let me know if you have any questions or would like more detail. Thanks for reading.

My first Scion xB

Previously I owned a Toyota 2004 Matrix.

It was a great little car and I used it to haul around my private Bartending gear to events.   I owned it for 3 years and it served me well.  I travelled acros California with my children and would drive to Phoenix Arizona regularly during its last year of life with me.   

Alas, last month on my way home from Los Angeles to Arizona the manual transmission failed.   A bearing started to go out and make noise.   

I decided to get rid of that car but wasn't sure what to replace it with.
I needed something economical, fuel efficient, 4 door so my kids don't fight about getting in and who gets what seat.  I wanted a Toyota product since I spend the last 20 years working for them.

I decided on a Scion XB.  I this little 2006 Scion XB and figured it was in good enough shape and made the purchase from an individual party on Feb 14 2016.

 

I is in good shape inside and out.  Some dents and dings but thats to be expected.  Needs some work ( catalytic converter, front lower grill, 2 rear head rests, a bluetooth and iPod capable stereo, rear brakes, shocks and struts, and my own person touches hear and there.  

It's got a lot of headroom.  

This blog will chronicle my adventures, upgrades, and life with this little car

More to come.