I have no idea on the location of that gear. But, just had to say wow, nice truck and what a find. An 02' with only 23k miles? Awesome.

 

LOL... Thanks, yeah I wasn't even in the market when I came across this truck on Craigslist... Soon as I saw it I thought it was a scam but just in case i went to check it out imediately and bought it right there on the spot... Even know it's a super low milage truck just like I explained to the original owner, time wears things out and i'd have lots of little to not so little repairs. ie, tires, damn power window switch shorts out if I unlock the windows, needs a new belt and I think it could use new cops which I'm not excited about replacing, and not to mention little stuff like that gear that's driving me nuts... I just looked today and it is definitely not the shift indicator gear. Mine is still there and it's black and not the size of a quarter but more the size of a nickel... Anyway I'm going to Auto Zone tomorrow and ask them to look up the e-brake assemble and the windshield wipers like someone else said. I know I'll find it sooner or later...

 

Just an up date...

Okay it is not the odometer adjuster gear mine is still there...


Thanks for all the ideas but I'm still perplexed... It's not off something I brought into the truck either because I keep the truck pretty imaculate and nothing I have has gears in it like that...

Again here is exactly where I found it...

anymore ideas are more than welcome. I have serious OCD issues lol... It's driving me mad...

 

The E brake assembly is all steel. There would be no small gears like that. I don't have adjustable pedals but would imagine there would also not be any small plastic gears as they would not be reliable. Also, that gear has a reducer.. which means it would have had to turn something small with little restriction. I can't think of anything else.. I have also seen the full windshield wiper assembly/transmission and there are not small plastic gears involved. I don't think it would have anything to do with the steering column adjustment either...? I'm about as curious as you so I will look around a bit deeper tomorrow to see what I can find or think of.

 

I agree, there is one possibility that is from the outside is a buddy was in my truck for a short ride i'd laugh it was his and he dropped it on my floor. Even if he did it's amazing that it would wind up where I found it. He only was in the truck for ten minutes and he sat in the front passenger seat. Anyway I'll ask him tomorrow. Thanks for the help...

 

Maybe its from the HVAC system.