First disconnect the battery's negative terminal wire, unfasten the console trim panel, and pull up the floor carpeting and instrument panel lower trim piece. Unplug the battery first, pull out the battery tray and battery, uninstall the air filter box and the tubing for air intake. Unplug the shift cable from the handle on the transaxle, remember where to put the manual lever for different models. Unhook the large locking clip from the bracket next to the transaxle, detach the shift cable from its metal wire holder on top of the transaxle. Take out the center console shift lever assembly's shift cable with a trim panel tool and unscrew the two bolts under the center console on Highlander models. To remove the cable for A/16- and 8-speed transmission models, turn the cap on the stopper counterclockwise, raise it, and slide the cable off the shift lever bracket. Lift the car, and pull the shift cable out through the floor panel by removing both bolts that secure it to the firewall. After installing everything back, fix the cable again by following its previous path. The shift lever inside the car should allow easy changes between positions without problems, and the shift indicator should always show the proper gear selection. Take out the battery and battery tray. Unhook the shift cable from the manual lever on the transmission. Push the manual lever down to PARK and back two positions to NEUTRAL. While holding the manual lever in NEUTRAL, tighten the shift cable bolt and see how reliably the transaxle shifts through all its positions. Do this while making sure the starting mechanism works correctly in Park and Neutral only.