6-Speed Taco Owners - How loud is your manual transmission?

I’ve got a 2014 4x4/6-Speed truck. I’ve got a pretty loud growl/rattle/vibration coming from the transmission area when I accelerate at low speeds and low RPMs. I took it to the dealer and they said it was normal…I’m not sure I believe them. Has anyone else noticed a noisy manual transmission? If its not causing damage, I'm not worried about it, but my warranty is almost gone and I'm not trying to replace the transmission out of warranty.

 

I've got a 2011 6speed and for the first four months I also thought something was wrong with my truck as I heard clunks and rattling noises from the transmission. I took it to the dealer and they said everything was working as intended. Four months later I've adapted to shifting correctly and have no more weird sounds coming from under the hood. Sometimes I get some rattling but that's from my bad shifts: For example, when I am coasting in neutral to a red light at 5mph and when the light turns green I put it in 2nd gear and I feel how I am lugging my engine. Do you feel comfortable shifting?

 

Hmm, I've got no clunks. Rattles, yes though. I'm comfortable shifting, I've even adjusted pretty well to the rev-hang. I can even heel-toe downshift like I used to in my BMW. I just have to wear wider shoes...

The issue I'm talking about doesn't have anything to do with shifting though. The rattle/grind/vibration/growling sound I'm hearing is happening when I'm fully in gear, clutch 100% out. I hear it the worst when I'm in a parking lot in 2nd gear, low speed acceleration. I guess you don't hear anything in yours?

 

The other sound I have heard since 27K miles ago is a chirping sound when accelerating slow. That chirping noise drove me crazy for the first few months but I learned to live with it. I can also hear the chirping sound when the truck is stopped and the clutch is out but it's is very distinct. The dealer also said there was nothing wrong with it! I thought my throw out bearing was going bad but I guess i'll trust the dealer on this one.

 

Mine is fairly noisy too, I was thinking that was the nature of that trans though. It's not as bad as you describe though op.
I can shoot a video of how mine sounds if you want, just pm me your email address.

 

I bought my 2007 new and the transmission is the worst sounding and shifting trans I've owned in 38 years of driving. If you short shift into second the main bearings sound like they are running dry. Had it in twice when it was new and they said they all sound like that. It also shifts like crap. I installed a TRD Short Shifter in hopes of improving feel but it did little. I've also had times where I can't get first gear to engage. I really like my truck so I've learned to live with it. It is disappointing that after all these years owners are still having tranny issues.

 

Nah, I don't need a video. The sound is during the same times as mine? Low RPM acceleration while in gear? How many miles are on your truck?

Oof yea, its not a great transmission, but that tough first gear engagement is something that most modern transmission do. Its because the boxes are designed with less "in gear slop" for a tighter feel. Sometimes the gears just don't line up. My BMW did it too, all I had to do was a quick double clutch and it would slip right in.

Its a bummer that the TRD shifter didn't help much for shift feel. I've never really had much luck with short shifters, they generally shorten the throw while making the shifting feel like ass. Most of the improvement that people feel is from new bushings I think.

Also, has anyone else noticed that their shifter wiggles a whole lot going over bumps? I've got a stretch of terrible road on my commute and I swear, the shifter moves 3" either way while in gear while its bumpy.

 

Yes same time as you, but it's really only noticeable when starting on an incline. I only have 3k on my truck.

 

Does it almost sound like a rattle snake with a metal rattler but just for a second or two? I used to always hear that in 1st second and third sometimes. At around 1500 rpm when accelerating. I havnt heard it since I got a better set of leaf springs.. Maybe it was something caused from axel wrap thati was hearing..

 

The best I could describe the noise , it sounds kinda like. "Shink" with a fast rattle or vibration to it.

 

it's just too high of a gear. i get that too if i'm going really slowly and try to use second. i've just started always using first in real slow speed situations

 

I get it below 1500 rpm while accelerating or like you said using second in a parking lot. Basically if you accelerate or even cruise below the powerband the truck shakes a little and makes a grumble louder than the usual exaust note. I'm perfectly fine with it and nothing seems wrong to me. Just an indicator to downshift if possible. If I'm in a parking lot and using second I just ignore it because I don't want to stop to grab first.

 

What I'm talking about has nothing to do with being in to high of gear. Or lugging in second. But I don't think there was anything wrong any ways.

 

I guess it could be the sound of the engine lugging, but I've never encountered an engine that lugged in 2nd in a parking lot at >1000 RPM. And fuck, that's the loudest engine lug I've ever encountered. The other wild thing is that the automatic Tacoma I used to own just chilled at 1000-1500 for nearly all of the driving I did. No lugging sound.

I wonder if the ECU Flash TSB would fix the issue?

 

i figured it was the nature of the engine. this is the first manual truck i've ever owned and lots of things seem to be louder than what i'm used to hehe

 

Nothing like that with my '11.

 

I have something similar and when i had it up on the lift at the shop i went to the catalytic converter under the drivers seat and i think mine is one of the loose bolts on the heat shield around it. Look up the loose heat shield on here and you will see more threads. I havent gotten around to trying to fix the bolt myself though.

 

The first part of this video will explain what's going on - it's rattle caused by torsional vibration of the engine, which is always worse at lower engine speeds. Low transmission oil level, low oil viscosity, and high temperatures (causing lower viscosity) make the noise worse. You won't get the same issue with an automatic because the torque convertor lockup clutch is unlocked at low engine speeds, and the fluid coupling of the torque convertor doesn't transfer the torsional vibration from the engine to the drivetrain

 

I can't hear my 6 speed over my BOV, exhaust, or tires.

 

Just tried it today and idled through a lot in second gear. No noise at all from the transmission.