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Manual Transmission Grind

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Btorquer, Jul 17, 2016.

  1. Jul 17, 2016 at 8:50 AM
    #1
    Btorquer

    Btorquer [OP] Member

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    Hello All,

    Bought my 13 Tacoma 6 spd manual 4x4 about a month ago. It, like my previous Toyotas, is a great truck. There is one thing that I'm wondering about. The transmission is a little reluctant to go into 3rd without a little bit of grind. The higher the rpm and slower the shift, the more likely it is to be normal.
    The truck has 33k on it and was certified by the dealer, so it has a good powertrain warranty. I was wondering if a different tranny fluid might smooth things out a little. I've heard that Ford Synthetic Trans fluid is really good for issues like this. Does anyone have experience with this, or a different recommendation?
    It isn't a big issue, but seems like it should shift a little smoother.
    Thanks,
    Paul
     
  2. Jul 17, 2016 at 10:17 AM
    #2
    azreb

    azreb Geezer

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    I had a Nissan 5 speed that would grind a bit when shifting to low from a stop. I changed to Redline MT-90 and the problem went away. Might help yours. One of these days I am going to change my Tacoma, tho it seems to work well now.
     
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  3. Jul 17, 2016 at 11:11 AM
    #3
    ausfahrt

    ausfahrt Well-Known Member

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    It only does it when you shift from second to third? With only 33k miles that doesn't sound right and I don't think that any magic in a bottle will fix this.

    I think it's time to make Mr. certified dealer step up to the plate and make it right.
     
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  4. Jul 17, 2016 at 12:51 PM
    #4
    Pigpen

    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    Ausfahrt is right. These trucks might shift a little differently than others, but there should be zero grinding. Either the fluid is low or the PO screwed it up. Make sure the truck shifts properly while you have the warranty. Be prepared for the dealer to tell you it's normal. That's bullshit.
     
  5. Jul 17, 2016 at 1:13 PM
    #5
    Btorquer

    Btorquer [OP] Member

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    Maybe "shift a little differently" might be what it is. On another forum, Miata owners call this kind of shifting "notchy" and recommend the Ford Trans lube. It's not really a "grind" but it's not dead smooth. Down shifting from 5th to 3rd or 4th to 3rd is smooth.
    58 Siesta, could you tell me what you mean by "shift a little differently"?

    Paul
     
  6. Jul 17, 2016 at 2:43 PM
    #6
    Pigpen

    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    Notchy is a good descriptor. There's a distinct rev hang in the engine and the transmission feels really tight - it doesn't just fall int gear. No oil will cure that. I run Redline MT 90 and my trams still shifts notchy. It's just a characteristic of these trucks.

    A grind would be a noise. It's when the synchro gears don't mesh properly and physically grind against each other.
     
  7. Jul 17, 2016 at 4:04 PM
    #7
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    My '13 would grind when going into 3 from day one when I bought it new. Redline MT-90 helped quite a bit but it's still a bit tough at times going in. I've read the Ford lube is even better but it has to be the right type. There's a thread on hear that gives the part number but I wouldn't know here to start to find it. You can't force it into gear, just let it engage and it should go into gear.
     
  8. Jul 18, 2016 at 3:58 AM
    #8
    Btorquer

    Btorquer [OP] Member

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    Thanks VSSMAN, you confirmed what I thought. It's a truck, no need to speed shift. I'm going to track down the Ford lube and try it out. I'll post up the results.

    Paul
     
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  9. Jul 18, 2016 at 4:19 AM
    #9
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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  10. Jul 18, 2016 at 5:52 AM
    #10
    Btorquer

    Btorquer [OP] Member

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  11. Jul 18, 2016 at 6:17 AM
    #11
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Oil will not "fix" a problem I can tell you, you need to mat the clutch like all the way to the floor. Toyota addressed the "notchy" shift in 16 it's not a new transmission is is a improved one that addressed the issue. It takes a bit to get used to the 6 speed but once you get past that they work fine.
     
  12. Jul 18, 2016 at 6:46 AM
    #12
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    Let me know how it works for you. FWIW, lube type can have a big influence on how the syncro's operate.
     
  13. Jul 18, 2016 at 7:26 AM
    #13
    Btorquer

    Btorquer [OP] Member

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    I drive a turbocharged Miata ( I know, way different than my Taco ) and follow a Miata forum. Members there have had a LOT of success with the Ford lube in Miatas. In that case it's the 2nd gear shift that is a little balky.

    While it may not be a total "fix" an improvement is always welcome. Thanks for the tip in putting the clutch in all the way. That and shifting into 3rd s l o o o w l y, seem to make it un-noticeable.

    Paul
     
  14. Jul 18, 2016 at 7:57 AM
    #14
    nh_yota

    nh_yota Well-Known Member

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    My 2010 has done the same thing since day one. You learn to live with it after a while, and switching to Redline MT-90 helps a little bit. I think the 6-speed in my Tacoma is the clunkiest modern manual transmission that I've ever driven, but it is what it is.
     
  15. Jul 18, 2016 at 10:15 AM
    #15
    tgear.shead

    tgear.shead Well-Known Member

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    THAT ^^^

    Ok, for my experience...........
    4-cyl with R155F. I did my first gear oil change (both diffs, transmission, transfer case) and made the mistake of trying out mobil1 gear oil -- which even said that its for MT. Could NOT shift into 2nd without grinding.

    Dumped that crap out of the transmission and transfer case (left it in the diffs, since they're just gears -- no synchros to worry about), and replaced it with amsoil MT. Back to buttery smooth.
     
  16. Jul 18, 2016 at 10:25 AM
    #16
    Pigpen

    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    I used to drive a Freightliner... Talk about a notchy shifting SOB!
     
  17. Jul 18, 2016 at 10:25 AM
    #17
    tgear.shead

    tgear.shead Well-Known Member

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    That even synchronized?
     
  18. Jul 18, 2016 at 10:27 AM
    #18
    Pigpen

    Pigpen My truck is never clean

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    I don't know.

    I quickly learned to shift without the clutch though. Both up and down.
     
  19. Jul 18, 2016 at 4:36 PM
    #19
    maineah

    maineah Well-Known Member

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    Mack Triplex. Try that one on for size.
    Same 6 speed as in a Caddy SST. and some other GM stuff.
    Can you explain how a syncro operates?
     
  20. Jul 18, 2016 at 4:37 PM
    #20
    vssman

    vssman Rocket Engineer

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    Can you?
     

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