88 4Runner- Problems with stickshift

Stickshift loose in manual transm.- will not go into gears.

Welcome to the AF!

Please explain what you mean by "stickshift loose". If you mean it easily moves without doing anything to the transmission, then part of the linkage or shift levers or forks or whatever is broken.

Stickshift will move "loosely" around outside of gears and with a little work can be pushed back into line but will pop out again repeatedly.

2 possibilities, hard to tell from your description.

1. The shifter seat in the shifter mount is worn and/or the cup at the end of hte shifter (in tranny) is worn. Both are user replaceable.

2. The shifter itself is loose in the shifter mount. Less likely unless you've been messing around with it, trying to remove the shifter.