Manual Transmission - 1st & 2nd Gear

Tacomas been clunking since forever. Nothing new there. If you drive a MT 2nd gen you'd see the similarity between them. Replacing parts isn't going to make something that is normal for the vehicle go away. It's a pickup truck not a Porsche 911, and it's a pretty cheap truck at that.

I think that with a bit more driving you'll figure out ways to drive it a bit more smoothly. I felt that 1st was real sensitive at first, but I've figured out how to drive around it and when to shift into 2nd and how much gas to give and not to give. The truck definitely likes to be driven a particular way, and if you don't then it can be a bit harsh in certain situations. It took me a bit to figure it out for sure. Just be sensitive with the throttle at low speed in 1st gear, and don't floor it when in 2nd at low speed. I'm sure you'll get the hang of it.

Even with the idiosyncrasies of the MT I'd still take it over the AT any day of the week. The engine feels a lot more responsive to throttle input and seems to accelerate with a bit more authority. It's still a pig compared to any of the cars I've owned, but it's definitely the better option of the two.

 

Looks like its not just the poor slugs with the auto that are having problems. Come on Toyota get your act together and fix these tranny problems.

 

Toyota didn't fix these problems on the 2nd gen ever, and they didn't seem fit to fix them for the 3rd gen. I don't think they have plans to ever fix them. Especially considering that it's still the top selling mid-size despite the character flaws. It has thunks, buzzes, bumps, and clunks, but they seem to keep running for practically forever. To me it's basically the UH1 of pickups

Trust me, I've about had my fill of, "oh that squeek/rattle/vibration? that's operating within manufacturer specifications as intended," but it is what it is. It's pretty clear that Toyota has zero intentions of ever addressing any of these issues.

 

BUMP:::: I want to bring this thread back.. Hey guys, any update on this rough shift from 1st to 2nd for any of yous? My truck is still doing it... 3300 miles on it now.. Thinking about trying a different trans fluid.. Wondering if you guys have done anything yet, or is it just the 'nature of the beast'

 

I just read the whole thread, and there's a lot of ambiguity. Everybody here could be talking about something different. I have 0 issues with unexpected lurches, clunks ... or anything like that. Actually, the only post I can relate to in here is the clunk while going over a decent bump at a moderate speed (in neutral, 1 or 2 while the clutch is in). My '94 does the same exact thing, as did my '83 5-lug. I could recreate the clunk 100% of the time if I wanted to. I can't say I've experienced this same thing in any car I've owned, figured it was a truck thing considering things move around quite a bit more when the terrain is rough.

The shifting itself can feel notchy at times, that would be my only gripe. But, every manual I've ever owned has been like this (This is #7 for me).

 

Yes a lot being talked about here. I am specifically referring to the harsh shift from 1st to 2nd, I get it most of the time but not all... It does not go into 2nd smoothly.. I dont have any of the other issues mentioned.

 

Harsh in what way, though. Before or after you let out the clutch? Harsh can mean anything from where I sit.

I remember posting with you about this before. While I do agree 1-2 can be a bit tricky to master ... I can get it perfect just about every time now. Just trying to figure out if you are talking about that, or if you have a legitimate mechanical problem.

 

It is harsh when I am actually moving the shifter down into 2nd with my hand.. Clutch pedal all the way down at that point... by harsh i mean not smooth shift, like syncros are off... just doesnt pop in nicely as it should..like it is fighting me almost. other times it is perfectly fine.. I have to really baby it and get rpms, clutch pedal movement perfect to get it to be smooth. Its kind of annoying me i guess.

 

Okay, so that is what I was calling "notchy". Yeah, I wouldn't mind it being a bit smoother ... but this is just the nature of the beast I'm afraid. It should improve with age, but obviously nobody is going to guarantee that.

I've had 3 Mustang GT's with manual transmission, and 2 of them were like this ('01 and '03). My '06 was absolutely perfect. I don't mind it so much in a truck, but in a sporty V8 that is a real buzz kill.

My 6MT Jetta has so little travel, even if there was something there I couldn't feel it. Seems to be a correlation w/ the long throws that reveal the notchiness, perhaps one day I'll give a short shifter consideration to see if it improves.

 

Thanks, yes it does seem to be 'nature of the beast' on our trucks... Dads 07 had similar issue.. he said it did get better with time, and that when he put in a better full synthetic tranny fluid it greatly improved.. I'm going to call the dealership just to report it and see if they are any help, or have any insight. This is my main gripe with my truck. Overall I love the truck though! Other little thing is small backfire upon start up sometimes... Do you have that at all with yours?

 

Yup. I read about it before getting the truck, so I was looking for it. Not as loud as expected. Kinda sounds cool if I'm honest ... rather than embarrassing.

 

LOL, guess that is 'nature of the beast' too then eh...

 

No it is quiet and barely noticable, just a little fart upon starting...

 

I'll take THIS beast over the typical issues across the 3.5L any day. Perhaps if those issues didn't exist, I might be a bit more picky.

My '01 mustang would not shift into 3rd gear above 3500 rpms ... would grind 100% of the time and I'd have to wait for the shift. Got lemon law help on that one. After poor experiences like that, it becomes easier and easier to not sweat the little things that inevitably come with a new vehicle.

 

Every Mustang I've owned did the same rattle/clunk when engaging and letting off in 1st gear, or going over speed bumps after letting off gas and pushing in clutch to creep over. I think it's the nature of solid rear axle body on frame manual transmission stuff ... Then again Mustangs are kind of known for their rattles and falling apart, so I dunno if they're best for comparing to ... but hey, they're also known for turning into rust heaps, just like Tacomas

 

Was it the T45? Sounds like bad synchros or a cable that needed to be replaced/adjusted. Pretty common problem ...

 

Tremec 3650.

It was common here as well, but Ford could NOT fix it. Maybe it was incompetence from the manufacturer, maybe the dealerships, maybe it was Maybelline ... fuck if I know ...

What I do know is that it got very old, very quickly.

 

I've blown through my share of T5's over the years it happens ... especially that powershift 3->4 ... but gotta get that extra .1 s in the 1/4

 

It is a bit rough 1->2. Like some others said, it's smoother if I shift outta 1st at like 2.5k. If I try to shift as soon as I get rolling, I get a loud clunk. It does not feel good.

 

Reviving this thread... So has anyone actually taken their truck to the dealership and did they do anything about it?