Help w/removing auto shifter '03 PreRunner - Solved with Pics

Hey Guys........First a big Thank you to Frizzman for posting how to remove the OD Button on the automatic shifter.....
I'm removing the automatic shifter from my '03 PreRunner but have run into a snag. I carefully removed the OD button, and the two small phillips screws that secure the shifter.
I "thought" the shifter would then come off but it appears the piece on the wire will not fit through the hole when attempting to lift the shifter upward. I was getting frustrated and didn't want to force anything so I walked away to get a fresh start in the morning.
Appreciate any help/advice.

 

carefully feed the plate through, some wiggling may be in order. I was able to feed out and then back through once the other handle was put on.

 

Frizzman, Thank you for the reply. You're correct, some wiggling was in order.
Man, what a pita to get the spring & cover plate back on. Took me about 6x and lots of choice words.

 

I had to find the spring after the first time

 

Added some more pics in hopes it may help a fellow TW member.
The hardest part to removing the Auto shifter is securing the white cap when putting it back together. Took me several times to finally get it secured in place.

 

one thing to note as well. the springs are different for the 4Runner (dual-action) and Tacoma (single-action) which is also one of the reason I kept the grey button. the casing for the buttons are the same, just the button and "action" of the button are different.

 

I kept the black button and it worked as single action

 

hmm weird, maybe there are different buttons as well. the one I had required a dual press to signal it was working

 

yea, I can record a video later of me engaging it to put it on here. I really didn't want the color difference, so I tested it and it worked

 

do you know what year was the handle/shifter from? I think I got a 99 or 00 but would have to go back thru my 4R PMs

 

it said 98-00, I ended up buying the whole shifter assembly that I am going to try to sell