2020 TRD PRO M/T

At least he didn't get a chance to go find a Cars and Coffee to leave.

 

I am an old guy with a bit of an arthritic knee, so I put the trans in neutral, then use clutch cancel to start the engine. As for driving, clutch engagement is very early, requiring a small amount of clutch pedal travel, so my knee likes it.

 

I usually jokingly ask for Man-Cards when my friends and peers talk about switching from a manual to an auto because it hurts or is too much hassle, but as soon as somebody mentions something like arthritis below the waistline I'm the first one to say, "Yeah, even I might switch at that point." My current commute into and out of Boston (3 hours a day to go 90 miles) would be murder with arthritis.

 

This is it. The keyed ignition switch has multiple positions, while the press to start button is only a single press. In the push to start manuals I’ve had, if you press the button without holding the clutch down the accessories come on and the car will not start. I think if Toyota was to integrate the push button and the clutch start cancel together then the push button would need another setting. Or maybe it could be like that fucking red phone on the overhead console, that isn’t connected, and have a cool little cover and be a separate switch to allow the csc to engage. So many buttons……

also don’t drive around holding the shifter, it’ll help wear the linkage out.

 

I was told the same thing when I bought my last car. 8 years later it was still pristine. Maybe the Taco has less robust linkage than a Mazda3, but I kind of doubt it. That said, I don't rest my hand on it in neutral because synchros

 

Like @RX1cobra said, Saabs have a live clutch, as did my Ural motorcycle. I modded my other bike to be live and wish that I could on the Taco also.

 

There is a lot of feel in the shifter, but very little in the clutch. Kinda weird, but normal.

 

Tell your Dad to always use the handbrake when parked. Didn't use mine when I bought it and have come outside a couple of times on inclines (both times semi steep driveways) and my truck has moved 5-6 feet. Think it might have something to do with the atkinson cycle motor but not taking a chance anymore!

 

*unless the roads were wet and it's going to get below freezing overnight.

 

Transmission in low gear or reverse depending on uphill or downhill and park brake on. Always. With wheels turned into a safe direction if the chance of failure were to occur. I have seen the damage caused from roll away vehicles. Big vehicles. I never want that on my conscience.

 

Good advice, but that doesn't have much todo with the atkinson cycle as the valves are fully closed in the compression stroke, just like any other engine. Parking any of our MTs in gear has lead to them moving on inclines.


Atkinson just uses the VVTi to hold the intake valve open at the very bottom of the compression stroke. We still have like a 11.8:1 CR.

 

Note that the 4WDLO seems to be a bit more sensitive than when starting.
At least MY taco is a bit forgiving upon startup (the pedal need not be necessarily fully against the floor.)

- However, when going into 4WDLO, it absolutely expects to be all the way down before it will engage. -A subtle difference, but it had me head-scratching one time when it would not go into 4WDLo. 1-2mm further down on the pedal, and it goes right into 4WDLo.

 

It is the same switch, but you are right, 4Lo is more sensitive until you find the method that works best for you.

 

My FR-S doesn't have it and my uncle's 370z that's heavily modded can both start in neutral without pressing the clutch.

 

Luckily he doesn't mind me driving it to school whenever and such. He doesn't drive many miles and actually encourages me to drive it more lol. He does trust me a lot with it since I'm the best driver out of my 2 older siblings and I daily a modded e85 manual frs which helps my case

 

Our parking is luckily flat and puts no stress on the trans or handbrake. I just keep it in gear but leave the handbrake down when I park

 

Awesome, nice MT army pro


This manual transmission has to be one of the shittiest manuals I have ever owned, and I love it. All the notchy feeling, clunking in neutral, whines, grinds, squeaky clutch makes me feel like I'm driving a tough machine lol

I wouldn't bother swapping transmission oils to find a smoother shift. I tried, I didn't notice a thing. But the manual lovers like trying different oils, so it can't hurt.

Search accumulator delete on this forum for a more "natural" clutch engagement feel.

The keyed ignition is a great feature on our manual trucks for the use of clutch cancel start. Used in 4lo for whatever situation required.

 

I think you may have just got a factory defect or they fixed those issues before 2020 because mine isn't nearly that bad, or bad at all. I do get a little bit of whine from the rear diff but that's it.

 

Nah. No factory defects. It's just a very basic stout transmission. I am exaggerating a bit in my post.

 

Congrats OP. Love the combo of an Army Green Pro + manual. A common mistake most people make is comparing the manual on a Tacoma to a manual on a sports car. I have owned enough manual transmission cars over the years and they were for the most part all had different characteristics between the type of car. I have had Early 70's Mopars with A-833 4 speeds, a 2007 Mustang GT, 2012 GT, 1995 318 Dakota all with manuals. The Tacoma almost mirrors the shifting of that Dakota...both are hydraulic clutches but shifts were long, clutch travel was long. In contrast, the two mustangs I had were completely opposite where shifts were much shorter. If you drive enough different manuals over a lifetime, the Tacoma is really just another manual.