2nd gear a PITA for everyone?

I haven't noticed a problem going 1-2, but it's a massive pain going from 2-1, to the point i thought my syncro ring might be gone. Apparently this is normal. As a rule i try not to use 1st unless stopped, but the gearing in this truck is so tall you need to.

 

Same here, 1st is really really tall!

 

Solution: Get the shitty MOBILE 1 ***OUT OF THAT TRANSMISSION***.
Replace with proper MT oil, like AMSOIL.

 

I get a bit of a clunk between 1st and 2nd, only when upshifting, never when downshifting. I changed the oil to MT90 which didn't seem to make much of a difference. I already know a dealer wouldn't do anything about it so I didn't bother bringing it in. I figure it is probably fine, it hasn't gotten worse since I noticed it.

 

I had a similar issue, I would describe the 1-2 shift as notchy when I first bought my truck. I changed the fluid to Redline MT90 and it felt way worse. Called around to a few tranny shops and one recommended making sure the fluid was filled to the proper level. I believe he said it was 1/4" below the fill hole on completely level ground. I did that and now 1-2 shift as it should be. Maybe someone on here can chime in on the proper fill level per Toyota.

TLDR: Try MT90 check the fluid level, might have something to do with it.

 

I commonly grind going to 2nd from 1st or 3rd when in 4LO but in 2HI it's all good especially once warmed up!

 

I've got a 2.7 with the 5 speed. I've found out that the tranny's in these trucks are NOT a race transmission. You have to shift them slow. Even when it's 100 degrees outside. It gets worse when it gets colder and mine is harder shifting when it is cold. Unless I take my time. The secret is to push in the clutch, wait a second or two and then shift into second. I also learned that when off-road, trying to shift from 1st to 2nd even when it's 80 degrees outside quickly does not work. Better make sure you're in the right gear before you start the climb. Rev the shit out of it but don't try changing gears once you're climbing. Not in a Gen 1 anyway. I tried Redline MT90 and now run Amsoil. No difference between the two. No difference when I ran Mobil 1 either. I just run Amsoil in everything now.

Shifting into first at anything more than a dead stop when cold doesn't work either. Once it warms up it's much better. It only takes a few miles if you let it warm up "before" you throw it into gear and try to race your way to work. I can shift into 1st at a roll up to a max of 10 mph (sometimes) after about 5 miles on a 10 degree day. When I say "cold" I'm talking about well below 30 degrees where I live.

None of this bothers me. It gets very cold where I live and Toyota manuals are the way they are. If your into shifting fast buy another vehicle because these things are work trucks, not rice burners or "tuners" and never will be. Wait until it's fully warmed up before you try shifting like a race car driver. Even fully warmed up these things will never shift quickly and I have even found out that after extended driving on mild off road trails they will even grind from first to second once they get really hot like on a 90 degree day. Super cold or super hot they don't shift from 1st to 2nd very quick.

 

I have a second gen 2.7 5 speed and it shifts fine fast or slow warm or cold the only thing is down shifting from second to first it can be picky. Does better when about ten to fifteen mph. Sucks when stuck behind a that can’t make up their mind to go slow or the dang speed limit.

 

God I hate amsoil salesmen...this is the reason I will NEVER buy Amsoil products! LOL

 

You can piss in it for all I care about what you like and don't like about whatever salesmen you happen to be annoyed by. The point is that mobile 1 **does not work** with MT.
I just happened to go with amsoil as the next oil after learning about mobile 1 SHIT the hard way, and as such, it happens to be one that I can say with experience, DOES work.

 

LMAO! Why dont you add me to your ignore list!

 

2015 2.7L M/T 4x4, recently converted all four of my gear/diff/trans fluids to Redline. @42,000 on it. I have owned the truck since new.

It was a chunk of change but I wanted to try RL and didn’t want to worry about it again for at least two years or so.

My manual has always been “notchy” from 1st to 2nd. Has been in all four manual trans Toyota trucks I’ve had.

For sure when cold it’s “worse” if that’s the right word. For some reason I swear the Redline MT90 is worse when cold but I can tell a difference after it warms up though. I’m SO OCD it would bug me to have Redline in the other area and not in my transmission but oh well. I’ve never used Redline before so this was my go at em.

2nd to 1st hasn’t changed at all it’s just a low 1st year. I’m not going to try and heel/toe a rev match lol... it’ll work if you want to but it’s a truck not a sports car.

I do remember this is a truck, not my old RSX-S that was so smooth people were accidentally floating valves by missing 5th to 4th and getting 2nd and the trans was letting them slip right into gear. Hahaha

I have noticed when cold, if I must get going on my way before I usually would I’ll rev and kind of accelerate in first past 3K RPMs and then the second gear shift is easier. Almost like the flywheel isn’t heavy enough to keep the RPMs sustained if that makes sense.

If I try and baby it while cold it’s as though the RPMs drop to quick from the 1st to 2nd shift and 2nd will have that notchy feeling to it. Now after she is warmed up, you can drive it like an old farmer and shift at low RPMs and it’s smooth as can be. I do want to get a SS from Core/Hurst this summer though. More money than the URD but it’s what I want.

I’d love to hear the technical engineering side of why 2nd gear in our R155F units behaves the way it does. And why it’s just 1st to 2nd. Me earlier mentioned procedure for getting 1st up past 3K and then into 2nd has me leaning towards the short shifter. Pretty sure most folks comment the 1st to 2nd is improved greatly from a short shifter.

Anyways, love the truck, hoping to drive it into to the ground.

Recently got a TRD OR susp from a 2018 and added the OR front sway. Rides great /better and basically got just over an inch in front lift too. I want 255s + good lift bad but know I’ll need a re-gear to make it happen. Won’t re-gear unless an ARB goes in the rear too. I’m tickled I live in Asheville as ECGS isn’t to far away. Hahaha

Pics for proof or it didn’t happen!

 

I used to run red line mt90 in the trans. Changed it every 30k roughly. I switched this last time on what @gearcruncher wrote about the quality of

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

Ford XT-M5-QS synthetic trans fluid. Noticed it really smoothed up the trans. I have to say it feels better with this fluid than it ever did with red line. It's a lot more expensive though.

 

The 2.7 Tacoma's just don't have a fast shifting manual. You'll grind them every time if you try to shift it like a race car. The first to second is the worst in my experience. I learned real quick that if I want to climb a really steep hill I'd better be in the gear I need to be in before I start up it because there is no option for shifting once you're climbing it. Tacoma's with the 2.7 are work trucks. They were never designed to be racers so I just shift accordingly. I've got Amsoil in mine. I couldn't tell the difference between that and Redeline's MT90 in sub zero temps so I just run the Amsoil because I run it in everything. It's easier when I order.

 

All the 4 cylinder boys complain about the 2 to 1 downshift .
The gear ratio inside the transmission may be a little narrow for these trucks .
Mash your clutch pedal to the floor as you are slowing down in 2nd gear and try to grab 1st gear . What usually happens ? You get synchronizer grind from 2nd to 1st
Why does this happen ?
When you push your clutch pedal to the floor in 2nd gear and attempting to grab first gear , you are removing the engine powerflow from the transmission . The problem is you are still moving or slowly rolling .
With this said , you have removed the powerflow from your engine but because you are still rolling and trying to grab first gear , that darn driveshaft thats connected to your rear differential and rear wheels eventually start driving the output shaft of the transmission .
You have to wait until the speed of the rear driveshaft matches the speed of the spinning 1st gear synchronizer
This is called reverse powerflow . It actually occurs every time you take your foot off the gas pedal with a manual transmission .
How to fix it ?
Install a clutch on the output shaft of the transmission and you will be able to grab 1st gear at 95 mph .

 

this sums it up pretty good. 1st to 2nd is much nicer when i take 1st up to 3500 or 4000. Everything just seems to smooth out (plus you can actually get rolling!)
Before the truck warms up, I'll baby it and shift to 2nd really slow, so i just bump the gas a little before letting off the clutch. Its warmed up by the time i get to the highway.
Cheers!

 

2012 Tacoma SR5 2.7L 5-Speed manual Base (access cab) with 86,400 miles now. Drove it off dealership lot new November 2011. Have never experienced the 1st to 2nd gear grind or any hesitation while shifting. I changed out my Front/Rear Differential & transmission plus transfer case fluids for first time 3 months ago at 80,000 mile. I put back in transmission/transfer case Redline MT

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

75W-90 GL4 gear oil.
I live on Lake Erie where winters are pretty brutal & nasty cold. Still can't remember shifting ruff or grinding from 1st to 2nd even when wind chills to -40 below or worse since owning? I'm curious how well my tranny/transfer case will act this winter with the new Redline gear oil. Great thread! Will report back when weather goes to hell again....... but now smooth sailing.

 

Wait 2 seconds before pressing the clutch pedal and press it slow and smooth. You maybe clutching too soon when the engine is still sending power down the drivetrain and the clunk you feel is the tension suddenly being released.

 

What may be happening is you are letting the engine RPMs drop too much before you get the shifter into 2nd gear. When this happens, the synchros will have to speed back up to much the transmissions input/output shafts instead only having to slow the synchros down which is much smoother. When I shift I like the get the shifter into the next gear quickly but smoothly and without forcing/power shifting.

 

It's been a very mild winter 2019/20 so far. Once single digits to teens. But I would like to report my shifting is still consistent when I first purchased truck new in 2011. Shifts smoothly and no hesitation or grinding. Pleased with the performance/satisfaction I'm receiving after I changed my transmission fluid 10 months ago with 80,000 miles on it. I'll change it out again along with transfer case, and both differentials at the next 40,000 mile interval i.e. 120,000 miles. Very simple and straight forth procedure about anyone can do with the right tools.