Manual Transmission - 1st & 2nd Gear

Mine clanks out of gear too. Since new. Any road imperfection and the driveline is clanking if in neutral.

The only thing wrong with this truck is the drive by wire. If it had a dam cable, the accelerator wouldnt be like rolling dice. It seems to respond differently depending on conditions, so sometime a rev match wont be right. 85% of the time, i can drive it smooth as can be. Now if they only fix that tall ass reverse gear ratio. I swear it can do 60 in reverse and has no torque at all.

 

You get better gas mileage leaving it in gear.

 

I googled "tacoma first second gear manual" and there are many threads with people talking about the rough transition at these gears, and I am having the same issue. If you don't immediately shift out of 1st gear then you end up jerking out, and this has never been an issue with any of my other cars, and I am especially comparing to how well my '96 MT 4Runner rode through all gears. I hate that I have to rev hard into 1st when pulling out into traffic. It just doesn't seem natural.

 

It definitely has to do with the ECU in my opinion. I have days where every gear slides in perfectly and days I have to double clutch and rev match (or at least try). Pav attention to the rate of your rpms dropping, it definitely dictates your shift points

 

Yeah, I've gotten used to its quirks and can drive it fine, but I still don't think this truck drives well. I am wondering if OVTune would really help here or if I should trade it in for a 2015...

 

I hear you, ive got the 4 cylinder with a 5 speed in it, after 18 k it's loosened up and ive gotten used to it. Reminds me of my first gen 3.4 liter. Not sure on the ov tune. Glaf I got this combo imI surprised they stopped making it!

 

I absolutely do not recommend starting in 2nd on this truck either on flat ground or pointing downhill. Too much clutch slip to get it moving and it will lug. For smoother 1-2 shifts. I rev to 2500rpm and wait 1-2 seconds before clutching gently. These RPMs prevent rev hang and clutching slowly prevents whiplash. Reengage clutch slowly around 1200-1300 rpm for 2nd gear.

 

I have no problem to shift 1-2 as long as engine rpm is 2000 rpm or above. Very smooth. No clunk. However, it's always a problem to downshift from 2 to 1, even at a very low speed, say 2-3mph. Tried double clutch, rev. match, no luck. I just gave up. Only downshift to 1 at a full stop...

 

I shift mine out at 2500 to 3000

 

You stay in 2nd at 2-3 mph?

 

See mine is the opposite, when cold my 1->2 shift is almost always notchy. 2->1 is a little stiff cold but goes in, when everything's warmed up I can shift into 1st at 10-15mph no problem

 

Mine too.
Cold, 1->2 is crunchy and requires some finess. 2->1 a bit stiff.
Warm, is smoother 1->2 (although still a little crunchy around 3k for some reason). 2->1 at 10mph easy.

 

that atkinson 3.5 cycleing

 

carrier bearing bind and unloading is the best way i can describe it

 

Try motul gear 300. I don't know what's going on with these manual transmissions and what fault Toyota holds, but everything everyone is saying in this thread are things my 5 spd did as well. I know you guys have 6 speeds but it's the same symptoms. I think it's due to the large difference in gear ratio between 1st and 2nd, requiring the synchros to work a lot. Going 3rd to 2nd there are no issues, just 1st to 2nd. 1st and 2nd have triple coned synchro but it doesn't seem to be enough, and you guys have a larger gear ratio change than the 5 spd so I'd imagine it's a hair bit worst for you guys.

I tried both redline and motul and I like motul more. With motul the shifts in the morning are slippery for the lack of a better term. It basically hour into whatever gear without much resistance. Once the fluid gets warm it's more refined, you feel feedback while shifting. It's more firm and controlled while still being smooth.

The other thing I've noticed that helps is to delay lifting your foot off the gas pedal during a gear change momentarily so the engine rpm blurps 200-300rpm. Combined with shifting with slightly less force it gives the input shaft more time to slow down so that the synchros aren't under as much load. Definitely makes the shifts smoother regardless of gear.

At the end of the day it is a truck transmission so it's not going to shift like a sports car gear box, and your shifter is physically moving the gear fork so there's going to be more feed back you feel on what's going on inside the transmission vs bullshit cable linkage designs. From what I've read searching about this issue people with older manual tacomas seem to have the same issue with no failures.

 

When i first got the truck I tried to baby it and get the best MPG, but they want to be run not be babied IMO.

Shift from 1-2 closer to 3k rpm and you'll be fine.

Take off faster off the line and shift at near 3k.

 

No. I don't drive at 2-3 mph in 2nd. What I mean is I haven't downshifted from 2 to 1 smoothly even at that low speed. I will give a little pressure on the stick and make a full stop when speed is low. the stick will be sucked into the 1st gear only when the speed is less than 2 mph. Sometimes I do need to drive about 5-8mph in homedepot parking lot. It's a little annoying. Maybe I need to try rev matching, and shift to neutral, and shift from neutral to 2nd and then shift from 2nd to first. I got my 1st taco 2 months ago. Still struggling with the clutch...