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6-speed tranny problem

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tflorida, Oct 8, 2008.

  1. Oct 8, 2008 at 2:35 PM
    #1
    tflorida

    tflorida [OP] Member

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    Hey all. I just bought an 08 tacoma. I only have 500 miles on it, but I have been having problem after problem. My current problem is that it shifts rough between 2nd and 3rd gear. All the other gears shift smoothly, but that shift catches, or makes a little crunch. I can hear it, and sometimes it jolts the truck a little. It doesn't help if its warm or cold, or if I pause between shifting. I took it to the dealer and they noticed it, but they said they don't have a fix for it, so they have to report it to Toyota and get instructions from them. Has anyone else had this problem? Or better yet, has anyone had this problem fixed? I'm afraid that toyota corporate will tell them that it is normal and no fix is necessary, or I'll just never get an answer.
     
  2. Oct 8, 2008 at 2:39 PM
    #2
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    Will
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    getting there....
    not sure how much it will help, but what about changing the clutch fluid over to synthetic?? may'be that will help it out some.
     
  3. Oct 8, 2008 at 2:45 PM
    #3
    TacoCo

    TacoCo Aspiring wrench monkey

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    I think that's just standard on these... My '09 has it too. It's supposed to go away once the tranny is broken in 5k miles or more.
     
  4. Oct 8, 2008 at 3:06 PM
    #4
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

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    my 6speed shifts a little rough when cold but is smooth when warm. i think there's really a learning curve on driving these 6pseed manuals so thats probably most of if.... you just havent got the experience in how to best drive this tranny yet
     
  5. Oct 8, 2008 at 3:26 PM
    #5
    Yaberries

    Yaberries Well-Known Member

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    I've got almost 10K miles now and the shifting has been getting smoother as the miles go by. Its pretty nice now, when new it was catchy everywhere. I was worried about installing a short shifter, but now its fine even with the SS. 2nd to 3rd was the worst when it was new.

    As long as you have a record of the complaint with the dealer I think your covered if something goes really bad later...
     
  6. Oct 8, 2008 at 3:32 PM
    #6
    hate2work

    hate2work Well-Known Member

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    My first introductin to synthetics came as a result of me complaining years ago about hard shifting on my old Ford truck. The mechanic had some experience with Amsoil gear lube and suggested I change it over.

    I changed it to Amsoil, problem was immediately solved. Even tho it sounds like this might be a problem that gets better with time, you might consider synthetics as something that could help right away.
     
  7. Oct 8, 2008 at 4:05 PM
    #7
    papabear050

    papabear050 Well-Known Member

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    Mine is rough from 1st to 2nd.... but now after aobut 1000 miles, it's really starting to smooth out. Give it some time, don't change the oil just yet. Break it in, then change to synthetic, that way you get all the metal shavings out.... I'll probably do mine at 10 k or so.
     
  8. Oct 8, 2008 at 4:11 PM
    #8
    billybobsgoat

    billybobsgoat Member of the Goat Army

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    When I first got mine for about the first 1200 miles or so sometimes it wouldn't go into first from a stop i needed to put into second then it would go into first, But now I have about 2300 miles on it and that problem has gone away. I'm sure it is that your trans needs more miles put on it.
     
  9. Oct 8, 2008 at 4:54 PM
    #9
    linkfeeney

    linkfeeney Well-Known Member

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    does anyone use amsoil for auto transmission?
     
  10. Oct 8, 2008 at 5:54 PM
    #10
    Gerry Pope

    Gerry Pope Well-Known Member

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    Hi all,
    Mine has a similar problem.. I can shift through to 3rd smooth as silk when I first start off. As it warms up I get the ole, is this gonna grind feeling..
    I bought this 07 AC 4X4 Sport with 16K and it now has 17.5K... Was gonna have the dealer check it out when I go get the TSB for the springs done. Sounds like it may be but most likely not be an issue.. How is that for a firm Stance [​IMG]
     
  11. Oct 8, 2008 at 6:04 PM
    #11
    tflorida

    tflorida [OP] Member

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    Gerry,
    Keep me posted on what the dealer tells you about yours. It bothers me a little that you are at 17k and still have the problem. It seems that you should be past break-in. You described it perfectly ... the "is it going to grind feeling".
     
  12. Oct 8, 2008 at 6:15 PM
    #12
    Gerry Pope

    Gerry Pope Well-Known Member

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    Tflorida,
    No sweat.. Will let you know..
    I was a little unsettled myself after hearing others tell of a break-in period. I am also aware of the learning curve with the taco 6-speed. I went from a 89 Nissan pickup that never gave me problems..
    That thing shifted sweet with 220k hard miles.. I can't imagine it would be an user issue. Will find out I suppose..
     
  13. Oct 8, 2008 at 6:17 PM
    #13
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    Will
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    getting there....
    for the new tacoma transmissions, they use a special "ws" oil from the dealer.....and im really not sure if anyone makes anything that matches it yet.
     
  14. Oct 8, 2008 at 6:34 PM
    #14
    hate2work

    hate2work Well-Known Member

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    Feeney, it all depends on which tranny you have. On my 06 standard cab with the 2.7 L I have the older, more typical type of auto trans with a dipstick that uses the type IV fluid. A few weeks ago I did a "drain and refill" of my fluid and I used the Amsoil Universal ATF, which is completely compatible with type IV. ( btw, it takes 4 quarts to do this, not the stated 2.3 in the OM )

    The ws oil ( world standard ) is used in the sealed auto trannies. It's supposed to be good for 100,000 miles or so. There is a way to drain and refill that type as well, but it's a little more difficult I think. The Amsoil ATF is not compatible with this type of fluid.

    The easiest way to find out which you have is to look and see if you have a dipstick for your tranny fluid. No dipstick, you have the ws type. If you have a dipstick, you have the more typical style that takes type IV fluid.
     
  15. Oct 8, 2008 at 6:42 PM
    #15
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

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    getting there....
    guess i shoulda added v6 tacoma transmissions:rolleyes:

    i posted what i did because i already know what transmission he has.:)
     
  16. Oct 8, 2008 at 8:03 PM
    #16
    aaronk

    aaronk Well-Known Member

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    My '08 V6 6spd has 11,600 miles now. The clutch/tranny did break in a little but it still rough shifting. For me 1-2 is a bit rough, as in you can really feel it going in to gear, 2-3 goes in to gear fine but the problem is when you let the clutch out. As you've described, it can make a noise and jolt the truck. The 2-3 shift is also worse when the A/C is on. Also, when my truck is cold and I go to make the first 1-2 shift of the morning I will occasionally get a nasty noise and jolt when I push in the clutch. If I lived in the city and had to drive this truck in traffic, I would have sold it a long time ago. Toyota REALLY dropped the ball on the 6spd.
     
  17. Oct 9, 2008 at 5:55 AM
    #17
    DMagoo147

    DMagoo147 Well-Known Member

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    also have v6 6spd tranny, noticed rough shifting between 1-2 as well...not really noticing it as much now and am around 4300k miles.. definitally feel it in the cold though. I would conisder myself a good driver and i get the jolts everyonce in awhile when i let out the clutch a little to hard. still love it though, would be nicer if it was smoother. I would dread having to go into the city with this, when i first bought mine i had to drive if pretty far to get home and the last hour on the highway i got stuck in bumper to bumper traffic( i thought my legs were going to fall off i was working them so hard just trying to get used to the tranny).
     
  18. Oct 9, 2008 at 9:36 AM
    #18
    RelentlessFab

    RelentlessFab Eric @Relentless Fab Vendor

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    my truck has almost 20,000 on it and the only roughness i get is sometimes down shifting from 2-1 and 6-5. my tranny is nice and smooth otherwise. im running synthetic in it since about 12,000.
     
  19. Oct 9, 2008 at 9:52 AM
    #19
    Demoncleaner

    Demoncleaner Well-Known Member

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    Was a little notchy when new, but otherwise zero shifting/gear issues in 4 yrs. Swithced to syn at 20K, not that it really made much difference.
     
  20. Oct 9, 2008 at 10:59 AM
    #20
    papabear050

    papabear050 Well-Known Member

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    Hey does ya'll tranny clunk sometimes when you press the clutch from a complete stop to shift to 1st...

    I have 4X4.... normal?
     

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