[2005 X-Runner] What Gear Am I In?

Just took delivery of a 2005 X-Runner (manual transmission) and was wondering if where the instrumental cluster is supposed to show what gear I am in (yellow circle), is it supposed to show or do I have an issue? Thanks.

 

This is a joke, right? Please tell me it is.

 

Ok....by chance if you're not hustling us...no, there is not problem with your truck. Manual transmissions don't have a gear indicator.

 

Sorry, just bought the thing and never thought Toyota would do that, every car I ever owned shows what gear I am in on the instrument display.

 

I've driven manuals my entire life up to my current rig and have never seen a gear indicator in a manual. I've seem upshift lights to help get the best MPG. Maybe they exist....I've just not seem them.

Anyway....post some pix. The X-Runners are cool rigs

 

Cool idea, though

 

Never knew Manuals were different on the gauge cluster. It has aftermarket headlights, so I plan on selling them here when the OEM replacements come in, so I will do a photoshoot this week with before and after.

 

I’ve got an 06 X Runner, it’s a fun ride. If you’ve got the OEM shift knob which is leather wrapped the pattern may be worn off. Mine was that way and NOS knobs are crazy expensive.

your options are many, I opted for aftermarket white knob with a black shift pattern, it’s a retro piece like something you’d see in a muscle car. Also comes the other way black with white pattern. There are dozens of choices including beautiful made to order wooden knobs. One member here is tooling up to make these, his name is Emmett and maybe he’ll see this.

Back to the X, When you get used to driving it you’ll know what gear your in without having to look. You’ll use sound of the engine like an audible tachometer along with the speedometer, believe me you’ll know. You get better and smoother until you and the truck are one. Sometimes for economy I started in 2nd went to 4th then 6th. The real advantage to having a visible shift pattern is when some ape at tire store can find reverse. It happened to me the ape nearly fucked up my linkage and shifter because he thought it was down and to the left. So really the shift pattern is for dummies, you’ll get a feel and if you need to look to see where the shifter is. Good luck

 

I’ve been told never to skip gears because it f’s up the synchros in the trans but do what you like

 

I almost crapped my pants laughing at this.

So you've never owned a manual transmission before?

If you can show me a vehicle with a manual transmission and a gear indicator on the dash I'll be impressed and apologize for laughing at you.

I'm sorry I laughed anyway. I'm just old.

 

You can look at your owner's manual for all warning and other indicator lights.

Here's the 2008 Tacoma Owner's manual:
https://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM35898U/pdf/OM35898U.pdf

Page 7 shows the instruments, and it specifically says "8. Shift position indicator lights (automatic transmission)"
Page 174 shows the shift pattern for the 6-speed manual transmission.

With a automatic transmission vehicle, you just put the gear selector in "D" and drive. It's very impersonal, and separates the driver from the vehicle, where vehicles with manual transmissions encourages you to "become one with the vehicle." You don't have to search for the gear you're in because you'll grow to know exactly what gear you're in. Automatic transmissions are for lazy drivers, where manual transmissions are for the "engaged" driver. Knowing what gear you're in may be a little foreign for the first time manual transmission owner, but you will learn quickly.

Drive free!

 

Shouldn’t you know what gear you’re in?

 

I drove a Chevy Camero with a 6 speed manual and it showed you what gear you were in on the dash. Seemed like an odd feature to me.

 

Y'all really don't have to be so rude to the guy. Some manuals show it and he was just wondering... Calm down...

 

Not only tells you what gear you are in, but tells you what gear you should be in.

I'm sure there are others but a couple newer mazdas I've driven show this. They are out there.

 

Can you explain this or is it a theory of yours. As of today I’ve got about 145k miles on the X and it shifts better than when I got it . Calmed down all the issues I had with tranny by installing new clutch while addressing the squeaky T O bearing. Followed that up by using Redline MT90 oil, all good now. So please do respond, I’m waiting.

 

Just say'in, in the motorcycle world, Suzuki started installing gear position indicators on their bikes in "1977". All motorcycle folks, I've seen, loved it & thought all others would follow. In I think 1987, Suzuki stopped installing them, nobody has ever figured why. Now you can buy aftermarket gear position indicators for newer bikes. I put one on my 2005 Suzuki Bandit 1200 a couple of yrs. ago. The electronics match the RPM. to the MPH. to figure & show what gear the bike is in. Love it.

 

why do you need this does it help you how? You need to be using your mirrors and watching the road not looking at lights on the dash the only way I can see this if you’re using tiptronic paddles on the wheel, you are racing on a timed course or against other drivers and you are at or near redline.

in the real world truck drivers know what gear they are in and they match rpm with engine speed and most don’t use clutch. Geez I guess people are getting soft they need help to drive an ordinary vehicle on city streets.

 

*Newsflash* I hate to be the one to break it to you but, you’ll be told many things in life and some is bullshit.
you need to be able to filter that out. OK?

 

Wait til you get old and your knees are shot, sonny!