Tacoma "grind" noise shifting from second to third gear [video]

I have not replaced the fluid, I'm the second owner. Bought it CPO in March last year and have been very happy up until now. The TOD maintenance map indicates 100k for the transmission fluid, 60K severe. There is no evidence of severe wear anywhere else.

 

Ask for the records of the service it's had. Mine only had 30k miles when I bought it and when they serviced it before selling it to me, for some reason, they changed the transmission fluid. The replaced the GL-4 with GL-5 which is thicker and not for the manual transmission.

 

Update:

Took the truck back Tuesday, for the third time now, because the GL-4 didn't fix the issue. Side note, this is a 1.5+ hour round trip, plus the time there. This time the head cheese service manager got involved. Completely unrelated but this is the same goober that called me when my truck was "due for service" (oil change), and after I told him I would change my own oil, he told me that it would void my warranty. I proceeded to get on the Toyota website and tell him that I am reading right now that that isn't true...

Next, this service manager called me a few days ago and said that he wasn't noticing any issues and would drive it some more. He called the next day and asked what fluid I had heard about that would help the issue, I told him the

$33 XT-M5-QS Full Synthetic Manual Transmission Fluid - 1 Quart, Black

XT-M5-QS so they ordered that and replaced the fluid again. Then today I went to pick it up, on my 4th trip up there. He wanted to go for a test drive with me and was assuring me it was 100% better (even though he told me on the phone he didn't notice anything). Anyway, to my delight, the first time he shifted into 3rd, and every time after, it made the noise. He was very talkative before that moment, and then went silent the rest of the 15 minute test drive.

Very thankfully (I guess?) it made that noise every single shift, so I asked him "you hear and feel that....right?" and he kind of hm hawed about it. By the end of the drive we got out and I looked him in the face and told him I could tell he heard and felt every one of those 3rd gear shifts. He finally admitted it out loud to me and the scheduler. He proceeded to tell me that they have to bring a warranty rep in to see what they will do about it. He said "I'm not sure they will replace the transmission" and I told him that I don't care what they do as long as it's fixed. I'm not sure if he thinks I'm fishing for a new transmission or what, but it's a ~33,000mi truck that I haven't owned for a year yet...I'm not gaining anything from this or trying to swindle them. This has been a giant pain in my ass and consumer of time.

He then stated they might only replace the syncro's but he hopes they "let" them bolt a new transmission on because it's less work. I'm now another week or so without my truck waiting on the rep to come in. I then have to drive up for my 5th trip to see what they're going to do about it. Then, assuming they fix it, I will have to make my 6th trip back.

I'm pretty sure they're not going to be able to deny fixing it. They've already tried multiple fluid changes, a tech and the service manager admit they're hearing it (even if they're "not sure if it's normal or not"), they put the wrong transmission fluid in it before I purchased it with which I drove around with for 11 months, etc. I'm not exactly sure why a Toyota "rep" has to be involved, maybe because it's a more expensive fix on the warranty?

Anyway, just wanted to post an update in case anyone else runs into this issue and find this thread. Also willing to hear any input.

 

Is this documented anywhere? I just got confirmation that the dealership replaced trans fluid with "00036-00003 transmission oil", which my internet research is telling me is GL-5 at my 50k service. Corporate has offered to split the cost of the trans replacement. If they put in the wrong fluid, "splitting the cost" of the transmission replacement isn't going to do it, thank you very much.

 

It’s in the owners manual of what is recommended in the newer transmissions . If they put gl5 have them drain it and put the correct fluid in . I had to call around different dealers to get the right fluid . Dealers are lazy and don’t care . I have had a few heated conversations with advisors at different dealers . They are just not educated .

 

I hear you, after I posted the above, I checked the owners manual.



It clearly states GL-4 for the transmission, and they can't argue that GL-5 didn't exist, cause it is listed for the diffs.

 

They're hoping you'll agree to save them some cost. Tell them no, they put the wrong shit in your transmission and it is now not functioning right. They should be fixing that, at no cost to you...

 

I've engaged Toyota corporate at 800-331-4331, they are looking into the records and are contacting the dealership. I have the paper copy of my service records in hand now (they were at home) so I can refer to them while I talk to various people. I agree that it looks like they put the wrong flavor in - hoping to handle it smoothly rather than confrontationally.

 

Yep, googling ""00036-00003 transmission oil" comes up "Toyota Lexus Synthetic Gear Oil SAE

$28 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 GL-5" - not for the right stuff for your MT

 

I finally got a call back from the brand manager. Toyota has acknowledged that the fluid they put in my manual transmission was GL5 and that "additives in GL5 are corrosive to the synchronizers" they would like to do a transmission flush and put in GL4 because "there is no reason to believe that any long term damage has been done". Yes, I asked how those two statements could possibly both be true - my contact said, "yeah, I'm just reading it off the email..." He also said they can't find Toyota branded GL4, so they would have to use another brand - I suggested the Motorcraft mentioned in this thread, but they seem to have a Penzoil lined up. I have no clue what secret sauce they are putting into the manuals at the factory, and I didn't ask.

If this does not clear up the problem, they will replace the trans. I asked what the time frame on that might be, and he said, "if it ever has a problem". I realize this is not binding, but I will try to get more concrete answers when I take it in for the flush.

 

It would take years for the GL-5 to have any real effect upon the synchronizers - it is a very slow process. But, it is indeed not proper, and it is believed by many on this forum most all dealers do the same out of expediency and expense.

I have run GL-5 in my manual transmission (on another vehicle) too out of ignorance for years. Tried the proper GL-4 and saw no difference. I won't do it anymore. Never had a problem with synchronizers.

EDIT: The 3rd gen has been out of production for a few years now, if they put in a transmission, it will not be a new one but a rebuilt one. At least I am unaware of any current Toyotas using the same transmission.

 

Just get one of the 4th gen manual transmissions.

 

Nice thought, but will they mate up??

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/rc60f-transmission-swap-including-4th-gen-taco.629019/

 

Let them do what they need to do at this point , even though you are put out .You have them on the hook now , just stay on them . Just out of curiosity try something. When your shifting into that gear , and no one is behind you try double clutching it . Meaning clutch in to neutral clutch out , clutch back in to gear . See if it makes that sound.

 

Already done that, still grinds. Only way to get no grinding is to clutch in, wait for engine to come down to idle speed and slowly slide it into 4th. I can skip 4 and get 5th with no grinding and no need to faff with the RPM's.

 

That’s great for after market work, I don't believe the OP’s dealer would attempt that swap.

 

They’ll put in a new one for manuals. They don’t do rebuilt manuals and they still have plenty of them available. 33030-04070.

Or 33030-04080 if someone wants the 4th gen RC60F instead. Dealer won’t do that though.

 

No one wants to take apart a tranny these days
Not too long ago it was the norm

 

Should have guessed went by a local trans shop not too long ago looking for a bin full of old manual trans parts (shift forks) and he, the new owner didn't have much of a selection. Didn't do many manuals, lots of auto trans though.