3rd gen manual transmission discussion

Apologies if there is a thread for discussing MT? I’m a new member and couldn’t find one in the search. I really like the manual but have one question/gripe.

Like - Our other car is a GTI and the manual on the 3rd gen is almost as fun. It almost feels like it has a turbo or VTEC that kicks in higher in the Rpms. If you keep on the gas over 2500 rpm you just get more and more, exponentially, and it really pulls away. I drive it like a hot hatch sometimes. The shifts are short and feel gated. 2nd to 3rd just slides in. Almost feels pulled in. It’s nice.

What I absolutely hate is rolling ~5-10mph and wanting to get moving again in second. Like in traffic or a rolling stop sign. There is no power in 2nd at slow speed. I’m forced to either chug back up to speed in second or drop back into first and over rev. It’s my only gripe but it’s really annoying to me. I came from a 2003 ranger and it would pull fine under 5mph. Might just be me needing to get used to it but I have to imagine this will suck off road up inclines. Feel like I’ll be stuck in first the whole time.

Anyone else have the same experience?

 

I have the same complaint. It’s probably my only one, besides he passenger side dash rattle. But I am going to work on that one soon.

 

I agree. Also, here's the big manual transmission thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...and-bs-thread-all-generations-welcome.406844/

 

That was one of my bigger complaints about the truck, lack of low end torque. You couldn't go anywhere in 2nd under 10 mph. Way back when I posted that here and had several people say I didn't know how to drive manual, that I was in the wrong gear at 10 mph lol. None of the other manual transmission vehicles I own and have driven have left me wondering if I should downshift to 1st at 10 mph to have enough power to turn across traffic.

The engine performed fine at higher revs like you say but it just wasn't for me, I didn't like having to drive it like a little 4 cylinder sports car to get any power (and also 11-12 mpg stock). I wanted that low end feel, low RPM cruise/get up and go back.

The gearbox felt pretty good for being a truck transmission though.

 

Very slick shifting gearbox, noticeable lack of low end torque.

 

OVTune has the solution to your problems. I had the exact same issues but since running the 1.03 tune I have no complaints about the truck or the power delivery. It’s well worth the money. Toyota did some weird things with the third gens.

 

some automatic people talk about re gearing sounds like same issue with the manual especially if any of you want to go with larger tires..

 

Zero complaints

 

Interesting. Mind elaborating? What’s involved with that application? Did you have the same complaint and it fixed it for you?

 

He is talking about the tune available. Grab a cup of coffee (or a whole pot) this Saturday morning and pour over this thread: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...gine-ecu-reflash.515734/page-58#post-16717581



Have fun.

 

I’ve had the 3rd gen in both the automatic and now the manual. I really like the manual but I’m used to being able to roll fairly slow in second gear without bogging the truck which this truck couldn’t do. The power is all available pretty high in the RPM range which honestly isn’t all that useful for a truck. I’d rather have new power down low for towing or hauling.

It’s a new tune for the truck. I’ve noticed much more power down low, similar to the 4.0 in the second generation Tacoma. The power delivery has been leveled out a bit to be more linear. It’s pretty simple, basically just load the software, read your ECU, send the file off, then flash the new file to your truck.

Here’s the link to the thread for the manual
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ransmission-engine-ecu-reflash.515734/page-59

 

Ok! Sounds promising. I’ll have a look at that thread linked above you. This is probably a noob question, and I think I know the answer, but would this application void the warranty? I have like 300 miles on this truck!

 

You can always flash back to the stock tune if you needed (you get that when you do the first read). It goes into detail in the thread, but there’s no way to detect that a different tune has been loaded.

 

Cool. Appreciate the info and feedback from everyone. Sounds like I’m not alone with low end torque gripe.