Grinding into 3rd gear

I have a 2005 Tacoma 6 speed manual. I have been having some grinding into 3rd gear and I know I am shifting correctly. I just took it into a shop and they believe the retainer that integrates the shifting arm into the transmission is worn out I found the part I need, http://www.villagetoyotaparts.com/showAssembly.aspx?ukey_assembly=340246 (retainer sub-assy, control shift lever). Is it possible to easily replace this from the top without dropping the whole transmission and spending a load of cash for someone who doesn't have a ton of experience working on cars? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

Sounds like a worn syncro. You may want a second opinion from a shop that specializes in transmissions.

 

Should be top accessable. I havent done it, but lots of guys on here install short shifters, and that would be the same assembly you're looking at having to remove.

I does sound more like a syncro problem, and that is common on the six speeds, but if this part is cheap, go ahead and try it. I know it was a common wear part on the older 5 speeds, and it was like, 5 bucks.

 

gonna lean towards syncro...i got my 5th doing it on higher rev changes. I can live with it on 5th but 3rd would def piss me off as that is the money gear on our truck.

 

I agree with the others, worn syncro. I would take it to a transmission shop to get a second opinion. Even if the part is $5 and easy to replace, it would still suck to do the work and not fix the problem.

 

I agree with the syncro idea. Id get a second opinion.

 

I have the same problem recently develop. Glad to see something on here about this. Question though: Whats a syncro?

 

I wouldn't call myself a 3rd gear grinder, but definitely a 3rd gear clunker in some situations. I can feel it clunk past a tooth or two before completely engaging. I suspect the synchronizer also.

to who just asked, a synchronizer (synchro) is a part on the gear shaft that engages the gear your shifting into before getting all the way into gear. . . if that makes sense. when shifting, you push the clutch in, pull out of current gear, and are in neutral until you grab your next one.

you can imagine that now your input shaft is completely disconnected and slowing to stationary. your clutch is in so no input from motor, and your in neutral so the input shaft is not "coasting" with your output shaft. now, as you push into your desired gear, you feel that first bit of resistance? that is your sychro engaging its mate on the input shaft and bringing it up to speed. theoretically, you slide the rest of the way into gear once both shafts are turning about the same speed.

if you've ever driven a jeep, you can hear them when you downshift. goes, whoooooooeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrCLUNK

 

It's this thingy. They are usually made of some sort of soft metal. Their job is to spool the next gear up to speed so you can shift. If they are worn, grind city. Mine were so bad my truck actually got stuck in third gear. The syncros have been updated to less shitty metal circa 2007 or so.

 

I really appreciate the quick input. I had done some research and found a few threads relating to MT-90 gear oil. Any thoughts on this as a fix or am I still looking at a repair? How much are sychros typically and is it something a novice repair man can attempt? (novice does not include dropping the transmission).

 

You could do it with a basic tool kit and a weekend, but if you are not mechanically inclined it would be better left to the experts. I can get my trans out on the floor in one hour without air tools or anything fancy, but I've also had it out several times. The syncros require gutting the case and removing all the gears ect. Toyota knew they fu$%ed up on them, that's why they updated them in 07. ALL 05 MT's are suspect. Parts are under $100. Labor will be about $1000 at a shop, twice that at the dealership, and they won't order parts until they have it gutted so figure at least two weeks down time if not more. If you are lucky and under warranty they will install a whole new trans instead of fixing it. Check out http://car-part.com/ and find a used trans out of a newer truck. For your situation that would be the cheapest option, and you could do it yourself or find some inmates from here in your area willing to lend a hand. The MT-90 will help prevent damage. Sorry, but it won't repair gnarfed syncros.

 

me too, same thing

 

Mine started to do the 3rd gear grind and I changed gear oil out to RP and haven't had any grinding issues since. Shifts smoother, I also don't speed shift any more since I'm used to driving it now. Keeping my fingers crossed I don't have any more issues. Slow deliberate shifts and not forcing anything. Seems to do ok now. Going on 2 months since oil change.

 

I think that is the key, slow, deliberate shifts. don't force anything before the synchro's have had a chance to mesh everything up

 

Yep. I usually baby mine. Sometimes I have to get on it cause I live in an area that is full of idiots on a highway where people do 90 in a 55. I will try the gear oil solution first. I can't believe it's that expensive for one synchro!

 

If you want to keep the syncros in good shape do not rest your hand on the shifter when driving.

 

Dumb question of the day: The gear oil replacement is the same as differential fluid change correct? If so, does that take any specials tools or know how?

 

Trans calls for

$29 75W-90 Synthetic Gear Lube - 1 Quart (Pack of 2)

75W-90 GL-4 or 5
Diff calls for 80W-90 GL-5, 90W if you don't get below 0°F
But doubt there will be any harm using either 75-90 or 80-90.

You want to loosen the fill plug 1st then the drain plug, don't pull the fill plug out till after you start draining or you will get sprayed with gear oil. Under pressure. Takes 1.9 Quarts.
Use a 24MM or 15/16 size 6-point socket. Might want to get new crush gasket from stealer cost $1.55. Pretty basic, fill plug on side of tranny, drivers side, drain plug on bottom. This is for the 6 spd.

 

1st, Change to redline mt90
2nd, do rec'd shifter
3rd, bring to trans shop.
There r threads on 1 & 2 to show u how.
Good luck & let us know how it works out.

 

First off, the actual brass part that is being called a synchro is actually called a blocker ring, which is the part of the synchro that does all the hard work. The synchro is the blocker rings (Usually 2 except for 5th gear) as well as the larger outer ring that the shift fork slides back and forth, and a few other small internal parts.

That is actually a popular myth. Once the gear itself is actually engaged, resting your hand on the shifter handle does no damage to the synchronizer assembly since they are all turning at the same speed, and the synchro ring has already locked into place. What CAN be worn, but rarely so, is the teflon bushing on the shifter fork, which I have had to replace on a few customer's cars over the years.