Manual Transmission help

Howdy Folks,

I am new to the Tacoma bandwagon and to this forum website.

I am having a small concern with my transmission. It’s a fairly new truck, 72k miles. And my clutch is really rough, I am worried the previous owner burned it pretty bad or something. It has become very sticky, first gear is pretty rough as I begin to accelerate. The other gears are also rough unless I perfectly and slowly release the clutch.

Are manual Tacomas just touchy, or are my clutch plates burned?

 

I don't understand what 'sticky' means. Are you saying the it has a lot of bite? If so, I would count youself lucky as the Taco clutch is generally known to not have much bite at all.

If you mean something else, please give me a bit more info?

 

Is the issue during the shifts themselves or after you've shifted? If you're off the clutch altogether and give it gas, to the revs run away from you without the truck picking up speed? That's usually the clearest sign of a burnt clutch.

 

My experience with my clutch is, when it is cold and wet it likes to grab hard and cause a shutter. Releasing and re-engaging helps and the issue goes away as everything warms up.

When warm, on initial contact, the clutch grabs firmly but will slip easily if your foot is not off the clutch pedal quickly.

The transmission itself was a little notchy new but now is quite smooth and positive. The only time it feels notchy is when I am slowing to a stop and downshift into first too soon. ( not engaging clutch in first to be clear, just preparing to start moving again. )

Now for your issues... does sticky mean you are grinding into gears? Dropping into first while moving is a little notchy as I mentioned but it doesn't grind. And the faster the speed, the more you feel it.

I am a downshifter and use the engine for braking. I have 102200+kms on my truck and the clutch still feels the same as new. I still have my accumulator in place ( I know, I know ). I also have the 2Lo mod for reverse on hills or when towing.

 

To clarify on the “Sticky” note, the standard vehicles that I have driven in the past including large diesel trucks down to small town cars. Have had a pretty smooth transition while you release the clutch and engage the gear. What I am experiencing is not much grab at first and then some shuttering as it fully engages. It’s like it goes from a little bite to all of the bite rather quickly. And I could be over analyzing this, I just have never had a Taco before and was a little worried about the clutch. I found a video on you tube that I am wondering if it is my problem… or similar. As y’all have described it, I don’t believe it to be my clutch plates after all but maybe the pedal assembly itself.

I will attach the video, I have had my pedal creek a little and a few things he says are similar. Let me know what y’all think?
Thanks!

https://youtu.be/-_yW1G7VYes?si=Hhm0Nx7CLjpPYdnY

 

That could be the accumulator? It slows the clutch engagement. Search on the ADM. Accumulator Delete Mod.

 

does it only do it on the first one or two shifts of the day after having sat overnight? Mine will do that too especially in the humid months. I have a hunch some moisture or dew is building up on the clutch plate itself somehow and allowing a little slip. Once it gets wiped off after a shift or two, things are back to normal. I'v learned to anticipate it in the morning and baby the shifts until I get out to the main road.

 

I had a 2nd gen and then a 3rd gen, the clutch was different but not what you're describing.

If it creaks, I think there's a TSB for some models. Maybe get that done and it might solve your problems?

I don't think the accumulator would be the issue you have.

 

I'd start with bleeding the hydraulic clutch fluid... then changing the trans fluid... then I would throw a clutch at it...

 

I do get that on a very rare occasion in high humidity. But opposite, it almost feels like the flywheel is rusty? Like you said, just pulling out and it is gone. Very rare though.

 

Yeah could be rusty rather than water - it’s definitely something that gets rubbed off pretty quick

 

Right on.

Cheers!

 

if the previous own roasted the clutch it would probably be glazed over. Tried swapping the transmission fluid?