Manual trans problem

I have a 4 cyl. 2.7L 5 speedmanual.

I have a problem whenchanging from 1st to 2nd.

When I press the clutch tochange from 1st to 2nd it disengages abruptably . Like ifthere was excessive play in the U joints (however I checked and there isn’t andany play in the U joints)

In order to have a smoothdisengage I need to be at very low rev. ( i.e. 1200) and very slow speed, like crawling.

I don’t know if this isnormal.

Any suggestion?

Thank you.

Roland

 

Yep, that's about the correct rpm to shift at. Welcome to the Slow Club.

 

That is what I have been telling myself so far, however Iwant to further investigate this.

If I am faster, but I have given the right pulling momentumto the track it disengages perfectly smooth. It works better in the morningwhen the track is cold.



Roland

 

I used to have the same problem and also when coming to a stop and shifting to neutral from 1st. Stomp the clutch pedal instead of easing it and it should smooth out considerably. I tend to shift into 2nd ~3000rpm as that leaves me with ~1500 rpm after the shift and that seems to be enough for me to make it up most hills.

 

I had trouble shifting from first to second when I got my 2009 4 cyl 5 speed. There was a hesitation from first to second gear,no grinding.Toyota said it was a bearing that would work itself free.It has since,but this is not the first time I have heard of this.

later tig1

 

I tried stomping on theclutch and it is a little better, but the clutch still disengages a little abruptablyand with a clunk noise.

I still have to change from1st to 2nd at less than 2000 rpm, otherwise the clunk is reallyevident.

1st and 2nd shiftingif far from good, but it is not a problem, the problem is really like if when Ipress the clutch it disengages suddenly, therefore the engine disconnects andstops driving the shaft. The shafts stops and the wheels and drive train startnow to drive the shaft and when they catch up with the shaft, because of alittle play, they make a clunk noise. I even checked the gearbox / enginemounts, but couldn’t see anything wrong.

I checked the driveshaft anddifferential and there isn’t any play. There is a little bit of play in the gearbox/ power take of, but it is not excessive.



Does anybody know if thereis and elastic coupling between gearbox and driveshaft?


Roland

 

I've personally experienced with my 2.7 5speed that clunk as well. For me it seems like you either gotta drive this truck like a little old lady or like Richard petty for it to be smooth. That in between area just seems so clunky. Something interesting that I've noticed though is that with my walk behind mower in the bed ~450lbs, it drives a lot smoother. She's a mystery

 

I believe but not sure Toyota uses a hydrualic clutch.

Try checking the fluid in the hydrualic reservior for the clutch slave cylinder actuator. That could be the problem and it's just not noticeable at higher speeds. If this is it you would also be having a problem engaging 1st from a stop.

 

Drive it like you're Sterling Marlin and you're good.

 

Kyle,
Thank you for the suggestion of stomping on the clutch.
It works. Still sometimes it clunks, but it is better.
I actually can see that with this technique is better tohave the rpm a little high.

Roland

 

If I get that abrupt 'clack' when shifting from 1st to 2nd, that means I screwed up the Toyota shifting dance. It helps to float the throttle at the point where it's not accelerating or decelerating right before pushing the clutch pedal down. That's usually keeping it depressed a barely perceptible amount.

On the 2.7L as soon as the gas pedal is released over 1200 rpm the computer immediately shuts off the fuel injectors until the rpm drops under 1000 rpm (you can see it go open loop on a gauge). This gives your engine braking and makes it drop rpm pretty fast during a shift. However if you let off the gas completely before pushing the clutch down, even if by just an instant, you're really disconnecting the driveline while engine braking in 1st gear. It doesn't like that.

The axle wrap doesn't make it any easier.

People complain about the 6 speed rev hang, but at least on those trucks it has a 1 second delay before engine braking in this situation. To tell the truth, after driving the 6 speed for a couple years, even with its quirks the 5 speed was far far easier to master.

 

Sorry to thread jack but does anyone notice with the 2.7 and 5 speed it's hard to shift into first unless your almost completely stopped. Obviously I'm not talking highway speed but like if your in second and your turning into a driveway or parking lot where second is too high. The only way I can get it to shift with out the feeling I'm destroying something is to double clutch like my old ford L8000. Once again sorry to hijack but this is the first time I've seen this many people with knowledge of the 5 speed.

 

to end thread jack, any Toyota I have driven hates a rolling 1st gear shift. keep double clutching. if you are running slow enough, just let the clutch out without gas and push back in to grab first. (1 1/2 clutching?)

I have to do this for every downshift when cold, though I think I am running gl5 when It wants gl4.

on another note, I know the 4cly/ 5sp is a quick downreving machine, you just need to learn when to stick the clutch in vs lifting off throttle. sounds like you are a little slow. another user suggested "floating" the throttle which is good advice. no stomping or excessively low/high rpm driving necessary, all timing.

just in case you think im being an asshole, it took me about 6 months to learn to drive my 6spd correctly because I came from a much quicker revving (downwards anyways) 4cyl. now when I jump in my dad's 09 4cyl, I drive it like a jerk with all the sudden loading/ unloading you speak of

 

That's normal. It's a lot better with MT-90 gear oil in there, although not perfect. I can generally shift into 1st with ease up to about 10 mph when it's warm if I blip the throttle (although I try to refrain from that). If it's really cold, in that zone just under 10 mph where 2nd is too tall and it won't go into 1st, that accursed no-man's land Toyota sent us into battle against, then I have to double-clutch.

Yeah it's totally weird with the six speed. On the 2.7 you have to float the throttle; on the 6 speed you have to let go and WAIT for the doggone thing to finally decide to drop some revs.

 

About down shifting into 1st:

In the past shifting into 1st while moving was a no no withany car, therefore I don’t consider it to bad of a fault for the Taco.

I have tried to hold the gas a little before, but didn’thave any substantial success, maybe because I was also doing the opposite ofstomping the clutch.

I will try now to combine the two tomorrow and see what itlooks like.

Another thing my clutch disengages when the pedal is fullypushed to the floor (and past it). Is that normal?

Roland

 

The key is to keep your foot on the gas while pushing the clutch to shift from first to second (and only first to second). Basically just a little bit more than resting my foot on the gas is enough. I get the clunk you are talking about if I don't do that.

I'm not sure about your clutch catch point, how are you pressing it through the floor? Mine disengages about an inch in from fully out, but I follow the what the manual says and push it all the way in.