2005 will not shift into reverse

As the title says my 2005 TRD would not shift into reverse tonight. It's always needed firm left pressure since I bought it at 77k (now 122k) but now, no matter the force, it will not go.

Had the frame done a few k ago.

Thoughts?

 

Manual or automatic transmission?

 

It says 6 speed.

 

Judging by your explanation , you have a manual transmission .
Time to have a peek at your hydraulics ,
Here is a link to some known issues
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...on-your-6-speed-transmissiom-write-up.338840/

 

Excellent link, thank you.

Yes, 6 spd..

 

To be clearer, it will not enter the "gate".

 

Can you select reverse with the truck shut off ?

 

I cannot.

 

Well that throws the hydraulic theory out the window .
Next is detents and interlocks .
Detents hold the transmission in the gear selected
Interlocks prevent 2 gears at the same time .
you can take the top of the shifter off and do some exploring
http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old...6toyrm/06toypdf/06rmsrc/rm2006ta/03200510.pdf

 

Again, excellent link. I removed the shifter and all seems in order, no filings, shift and select lever shaft has no play.

What is next besides taking it to my local transmission shop for lever/cam inspection?

Thanks in advance.

 

I am afraid at this point there isn't much you can do other than removing some of the springs and balls from the side of the transmission casing .
There has to be enough wear on your aluminum shift forks causing the transmission to believe its in gear even though its in neutral .
This is a fairly common problem on higher mileage trucks .
Put the truck in 6th gear while its shut off and try rocking your truck by hand back and forth .Helps if you have a buddy helping you push the truck
Then put the truck in 5th gear while the truck is off and rock the truck back and forth by hand
Then put the truck in 4th gear and rock it , then 3rd , then 2nd , then 1st .
Sometimes , this helps align the detents and interlocks .
Try this and let us know how you make out

 

The shift lever bushing was good?

Had a friend's stop going into reverse a couple months ago. The rubber shift lever bushing had dissolved.

 

I recall from years ago at least one person with a 2005 who had issues with the synchro detent spring breaking or popping out of place, thus jamming the synchro sliding collar from moving - was not a shift rail issue, until he bent the shift fork trying to force it in. In any case, it sounds like a tear-down of the transmission will be needed to determine the exact issue and repair it, or look to a good used trans.

 

No luck.

Bushing is good.

Taking it to a transmission shop today.

 

Mine quit going into reverse a couple of years ago and it was the bushing and the ball cup. I replaced those and it works fine for now. Crappy six speed is still a crappy transmission compared to the other Toyotas I've owned or driven though.

I know you said the bushing seemed OK but did you happen to notice it pop out of gear at any time prior to this?

 

It had not.

Your comment about the ball got me thinking and I gave the URD short shifter I had yet to install a shot.

Initially it wouldn't get out of the 3/4 "gate" but after some rowing I can now get all gears, including reverse! I'm going to grease the bushing and tighten everything down and hopefully all will smooth out over the next few drives.

I'm wondering though, do the stock shifters wear out?

Thinking I will order a new bushing and ball cup per your experience.

Thank you to all that replied and offered insight!

 

Yes , the bushings are famous for wearing out
Here is the part number to replace the shifter bushing
Toyota Part no. 33548-60040 . You can also get this bushing from Marlin Crawler and all the guys say its better than the factory bushing
https://www.marlincrawler.com/transmission/shifter-parts/heavy-duty-sockets


TRD quick shifter review http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ter-review-install-tips-couple-questions.html

TRD short shifter questions http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...hifter-guys-out-there-questions-opinions.html

Hurst shifter review /questions http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/274714-core-hurst-short-throw-shifter.html

URD short shifter and review http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/underdog-racing-development/31803-short-throw-shifter-kit.html

Sloppy Shifter ? http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/243818-sloppy-6spd-shifter.html

 

Yep, mine didn't look too bad, they weren't falling apart or cracked, but they were showing wear; the ball shouldn't be worn since you still have the original cup and bushing in there. I actually posted on here asking basically the same question a couple of years ago thinking my trannie was screwed and somone suggested replacing those inexpensive parts first. I installed the Toyota cup and a Marlin bushing and it worked normally again. I was actually surprised and greatly relieved not to be buying another transmission or rebuilding mine- they are very expensive. Hopefully that's all you need. Good luck.

 

I realize this is an old thread, but the issue I have is pertinent to the subject matter. Same issue: I have '05 4.0L 6-speed manual and cannot get it to shift into reverse. About 130k miles. I got the Marlin Crawler gear seat & bushing on order, but now that I have surfed around a bit more, it seems the gear seat has completely dissolved!?! The rubber gasket was the only thing that came out of the cup:




There is a lot of residue where this came out of. I will do my best to clean it up. Should I be worried that something got lodged further down in the tranny, or is it more likely the seat completely dissolved and/or got chewed up? Any tips? Really hope this fixes it, otherwise it might be time for a new truck.

 

Not sure if you did the job yet .
Whats that yellowish brown thing ?
Is that a broken piece of plastic laying inside the shifter housing ? Hard to tell in the picture but if it is a chunk of plastic , that would prevent reverse .
While you are waiting for parts , you can select reverse with a screwdriver . Find something that fits nice and tight in the shifter hole and give reverse a try
When is the last time you changed the gear oil ?
Might as well dump your fluid .
This way you can fill the transmission back up through the shifter hole .
Much easier than filling it now then later