Toyota Repair: 2000 4x4 tacoma, shifter boot, toyota dealer

Question
I have a 2000 Tacoma Reg. Cab 2.7 4WD that I purchased used and now has 132K miles. It has always shifted flawlessly. Yesterday, I got in it to go to work and on my way out of the neighborhood I missed 3rd (this never happens). Then I got out on the street and missed 3rd again and then missed 4th!. I can get it to go into gear (3rd and 4th) only if I am deliberate about my shifting. 1st,2nd,5th,and reverse seem unchanged but 3rd and fourth feel totally different through the stick and it seems like the throw is shorter than normal. I haven't crawled under the truck yet to take a look but this did not occur from snow, mud, impact, or anything else. It was driving perfectly, I parked it overnight, and now it is different. I was wondering if anyone else had experienced this and might know what has happened.
Thanks!

Answer
Check the shifter bushings in the shift tower, they tend to wear and cause shifting problems, remove the console and the shifter boot and then remove the shifter for inspection. The bushings are under the center of the shifter under the spring loaded retainer, push down on the retainer whjile turning it to release the shifter, one of the bushings is inside the opening and the other one is at the end of the shifter, you can get botth at the toyota dealer.