Manual Tacoma - 1st to 2nd Notchy?? Anyone else?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/manual-trans-grind-after-replacing-oil-fluid.427923/page-2

 

Same here. I've driven all kinds of MTs all my life and my 2019 MT brings a grin to my face every time I drive it. Most of you MT owners know the feeling.

 

For sure. My f150 was a really close second. I often wonder if I had the reputable in line 6 instead of the v6 (missed it by a year) if that would have just topped off the whole package.

Regardless OP, try shifting around those mark and really making sure you're driving text book. You don't need to drive like that forever. You'll clean it up and tighten the shifting time, but you'll notice the jerk and notch might clear up. And all though it is a modern manual transmission, it still isn't a huge fan of multiple different rotation speeds. Aka dont try to slam it into first when youre coming out of 3rd and still going 15mph

 

Coming from 30 years worth of Honda's and an occasional WRX or 2 the Tacoma shifts like like a farm tractor. Although, it has smoothed out some at 10k miles. Just keep in mind it is a truck and you will learn to forgive it. Also I find shifting slow with a pause in neutral between gears helps smooth things out. Still, no regrets with a manual.

 

Don't recommend pausing in neutral. A quick and smooth but deliberate shift is all that is needed. If you are pausing then the synchro will lose too much speed and actually need to be sped back up to match the transmission shaft speeds. On a regular upshift all you are doing is trying to slow the synchro down which is smoother and less wear.

 

I noticed it is a bit crunchy sometimes from 1st to 2nd too . If i shift around 2500-3000 it seems to go in fine. If you shift at 3500+ i noticed it goes in a bit smoother but thats too high rpm for normal driving, i felt that in my previous truck( ranger) as well.

You are coming from subarus so, it will be a big difference since its a truck. I drove quite a few manual trucks and this one is by far the smoothest. I love this MT( except for super high reverse) same thing in my previous truck tho, i will never understand why.

You just gotta learn to be smooth 1-2 and the rest is like butter, super smooth tranny. It just makes funny clunking noises if you are in neutral and going over bumps, sounds like something loose or broken.

1-2 2500-3000
2-3 2500-3000
3-4 2000-2500
Usually skip 5 and go straight to 6. A lot of times i will skip 3 as well. MT 3rd gen tacos come with lower gear ratio diff, which is great for everyday driving, sucks a bit on highways if you want to go above speed limit. Also, i noticed the crunchiness gets smoother the more you drive it.

Good luck and great choice ! I wanted OR DC MT , but they dont have them here in canada, only AC OR MT. So i had to get a sport.
#skewplife.

Enjoy your truck man!

 

I'd like to change my answer, Alek. Shift out of 1st @ 2600 rpm. 2nd to 3rd @ 2300 rpm. I paid attention on my afternoon drive. shifts are smooth.

 

Yeah the first time I went over a speed bump in neutral (cruising into a parking lot) the rattle coming from under the car scared the shit out of me. After looking into it I see it is a fairly normal sound. Was worried my brand new truck was already shitting the bed! Ha!

 

When you change the fluid, will I end up using the full Quart? Also, how often would you suggest changing it? Sorry for the noob questions.

 

OP try shifting at 3k for 1,2, and 3 then try 2800k reason being is if you shift to slow it'll allow time for the trans to slip into the next gear, to fast and you have to force it...after 22k miles thats the best i got, a guy on the MT thread has accumulator delete it helps with the starting off and reverse, snag one if you can, heard he's going to stop making them, the MT-90 is a huge benefit for the system ( from what i've heard, mine is still waiting to be done) when you get it done report back man enjoy the truck

 

It’s a truck. Just drive it for 6 months and it will become 2nd nature to you. Never owned a suburb, but have had several Toyota Pickups. This one makes all of its predecessors feel like driving a tractor.

 

If I fuck up my shift, then I can kind of feel the "notchy" you say. However, over this MT is butter smooth and makes a mid size truck very enjoyable to drive daily.

 

Haha! I thought it was my hitch making that noise when i first went over speed bump, but then realized thats just how it is.

I went underneath my dads 4Runner, put tranny in N and twisted driveshaft back and forth and it kinda makes same noise.

In the taco if you just move shifter left to right while parked, you will hear that noise too. None of my manual cars/trucks did that, strange.

I might change the fluid in the tranny in the near future, a lot of positive feedback on the forum about it.

 

Mine is butter, but I do have the shudder thing now and again. Gonna get the TSB at some point, but been slacking. It's not bad enough to make me do it

 

You need 3 quarts for the 6MT. You'll have about 1/2 qt left over.
Make sure to get crush washers and hand pump too.

 

Should have gotten the auto! Exactly why I didnt go manual tranny

 

Yes 1st-2nd is pretty notchy. Temperature has a role to play in it. Cold weather makes it feel much more notchier than warmer weather. There are a few threads about the notchiness. It comes down to timing the shift well. After driving it for 9 months, I've grown to understand the transmission much better. You have to remember this is a truck not a sports car, so coming from that world, you may have high expectations. I personally find 1st-2nd shifting works well between 2000-2500 rpm. All other gears, shift between 3000-3200 rpm. Also make the shifts relatively quick, not slow and lazy. I find these things have helped.

NB You may also get suggestions about accumulator delete, software update etc. I haven't done any of those things. I'm pretty happy with the way I've gotten it to work now. My shifts are 90% smooth now despite temp. Just my $0.02.

 

Also, for everyone asking questions about the volume of oil etc to put in your truck. This is a sticky btw..
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference.406712/

 

I appreciate the feedback everyone! I have gotten it dialed in the past week and really have the same notchy feeling when it's driver error. Next step is to change to the synthetic fluid. I will update as to how much of a difference it makes. I think I am going to go with the Ford synthetic after reading some reviews. Seems to be mainly Miata feedback.. but seems like it would really help. If anyone has any last words as to their synthetic brand of choice, now is your time to rise!

 

I've used oem, redline, and Ford. Ford wins in the 6mt. My .02