Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

Found an easy way to remember rev matches for 16+ v6 manual.
2nd gear:20mph:2000 rpms
3rd gear:30 mph:2000 rpms
4th gear:40 mph:2000 rpms

 

I'll comment here that when I did my fluid change I also put in a URD shift kit, so I tried pouring gear fluid in through the shifter hole.

The design of our transmissions is such that the shift lever area is sectioned off from the gearing. I've removed my share of shifters over the years and this is the first time I've seen such a thing.

There is a drain hole, but its small. You can only pour a small bit of fluid at a time and then you have to wait 20-30 seconds for it to drain down into the trans.

Unless you are patient and have a lot of time on your hands, you're better off grabbing a $5 hand pump from harbor freight and doing it through the fill hole.

 

How'd the urd install go? Seems like some have had difficulty

 

The URD install is what I would consider mildly annoying.

There are threads around here that explain in more detail, but essentially the shifter plate attached to the trans with four bolts (one in each corner). The front two bolts are nearly impossible to reach because they are forward of the access hole, with very little clearance to the top of the trans tunnel.

I managed to get the stock ones out from below with a ratcheting wrench and a couple of busted knuckles.

The real problem is that with the URD kit, a ~1" aluminum plate is added that reduces the bolt clearance even more. There isn't enough space to even drop the new bolts into the holes. So you have to drop them in the plate in advance and move the entire assembly into place at once, hoping that the bolts line up, the shifter bushing lines up, and while aligning a gasket and the RTV sealant that the instructions call for.

And if you miraculously get this lined up, you are never going to get an allen wrench in there to tighten the front two bolts.

I ended up cutting down a spare allen wrench I had lying around, and took a pry bar to the sheet metal at the top of the trans tunnel to build a little clearance for myself. Some people have just used snips to cut the metal and fold it back.

Once installed, I've been very happy with it though.

 

Anyone else ever have their clutch pedal get "slow" and kinda stick on the return in cold weather? Meaning, if you remove your foot semi-quick off the clutch with the transmission in neutral, the pedal comes up far slower than your foot, with a delayed and soft "thunk". It was about 18 Degrees out at the time after a long drive. Weirdest thing ever. Never had that before in any of my other MTs.

 

Yup. Mine stiffens up at anything under about 20 degrees. Way more pronounced than any other stick shift vehicle I've driven before. It seems to soften up after a couple shifts.

Toyota's cold weather testing of this vehicle definitely leaves something to be desired.

 

When I was up in Tahoe a couple weekends back, It was nice and snowy outside...definitely thought something was broken at first, push the clutch in and its SUPER stiff but then letting off it popped out suuuuper slow, once the trans warmed up it was fine. Prob just a combination of clutch springs and fluid being cold

 

I completely agree with you Tim.
We're truck twins btw except for color.
My wife and I also have a 2015 Nissan Juke Nismo RS. It's a 6M and has a pushstart and prox key entry system also. It is super handy. Would be kool to have that on the truck.
It's true that Toyota could have engineered around the problem but I think we have so much value in awesome features in the truck as it comes.

 

-7 here today and mine is shifting ok.
Build date was 9-16 in Texas

 

Mine creaks a tiny bit but not like that. That's pretty damn bad. Creaking didn't start until 5k miles and only really happens in first or second gear.

 

It has got cold enough here the clutch has stayed to the floor on mine. But put it in gear and it will work normally.

 

seems crazy that the northern distributed trucks have the same sluggish fluid as we do in Texas.

 

Just bought a new 3rd gen inferno red 6-MT TRD Sport V6 4x4 Access Cab today.
Dealer sales person didn't know how to drive a manual so I had to drive out of their showroom (only & last manual Taco they had).

My first car I bought in 1980 was a Toyota Celica 5MT as well.

 

Congrats and hope you enjoy! Got yourself a true unicorn in that configuration.

OA

 

Here's an update for anyone interested:

Toyota is replacing the pedal, assembly, and master cylinder under warranty. My tech said this is a very well known problem.

 

Added a pedal commander over the weekend and went for a 150 mile round trip.
I played around with the settings and found the lower ones work better for all around driving, basically 2 things come to mind. The truck should have had one of these stock, but with the epa I see why the the system was built like it is. The device basically tells the truck you have more pressure on the pedal than you really do and the fuel mileage really shows me driving it around as if I am heavy footed but before the install I found myself driving around like the blue hair who takes a week to get up to speed.

Not sure its worth $260 but it drives closer to my 2nd gen now, but fuel mileage is worse. I only have 2200 miles on it so I am sure it will get better over time.

 

I just don't get spending money, when the same exact effect happens with a bit more pedal travel.

 

I should add that it also happens quicker, so for instance if you could smash the pedal in a micro second it would be closer to what happens. Its really snappy now.

 

it's not the exact same thing. i see why you say this, i understand the product's design and your reasoning, but it's not the exact same thing as simply using more pedal in the real world. the throttle's output curve is changed. it's true that at any fixed throttle position you're looking at a higher fixed output, but moving through it with your foot is absolutely not the same as moving your foot through it more and faster. please don't argue with me. i own the thing and have played with it since i got it. and god knows i'd buy it again. i like throttle response with a light touch for my MT driving, and it does that big time and is adjustable. the only way i'm getting happier is when this damn motor is unleashed with new software. until then i am now happy with a motor that i was unhappy with from purchase until the day i got my pedal commander setup correctly for my usage.

 

Crazy. The build date I was given was today - and coincidentally, the dealer called today and said the truck arrived. I guess Toyota is ahead of schedule.