Shifting the 6spd manual quickly

I think that all manual transmissions have a different feel; my previous car, a Subaru, was one of the hardest manuals I have ever driven, far harder than the Taco (or my parents Saab, for that matter).
The Taco certainly is a little slower to shift, but once you get the hang of it, it is still lots of fun! I have been having too much fun racing with the rampant Ricers here in SLC, "chirping" 2nd very easily (not hard, with the almost weightless rear end).

I have heard (posts on TW) that the short throw shifter can cause problems... so I have stayed away from it.

 

OK I'd like to put my $0.02 in on this one for sure. Shifting is the very first thing i noticed when I bought this truck. So for all who have the six speed consider this:

I think that the engine de-celeration ramp time is too long. Drive around, slip the clutch in and stab the throttle. See how long it takes for the engine to return to idle? I think it's about a full second too long. You need to drive it like a truck because you are waiting for the engine to slow down for a smooth release of the clutch. I even double clutch to pass the time. I've also noted very little hold back on this truck that is likley related as well.

I brought it up all the way to Toyota Canada and I was told all the way along that this profile "reduces oxides of nitrogen". It's an emmissions thing... .... ... Now I admit that I'm not an emmisions expert but I've been a pro mechanic for +20 years, and I call B.S. The other manufacturers don't need to loft the throttle for this purpose, and wouldn't such a thing increase HC? I think that 95% of the Tacomas were produced with Auto transmissions for which this profile would work. Of the remaining 5% only half would even notice, of that 2.5% maybe half again would actually complain about it, then give them that B.S. emissions story that the marketing guys came up with as the offical statement in case anyone asks.

The standard trucks are running around with the auto trans computer profile because they didn't bother to spend the time to write a different program to optomize for the few standards that they built. That's what I think.

I contacted an aftermarket computer re-programmer/power chip co.(can't remember the name) the guy told me he knew exactly the problem I was trying to solve but they hadn't even tried to crack the software and explained to me how hard it was to do it on any Toyota.

Drive around the Auto trucks and see how nice they drive and then tell me I'm wrong!

but maybe it's just me...

 

When I first got my 05, I couldn't shift it that fast because I was used to my 04 Cobra. After driving it for awhile, I could launch it in first and bark the tires real hard going to second after driving for a few months with 265/75/16LT. Just takes time.

 

X2

Sopposedly the rpm's hang up and are slow to drop is bc these trucks do not have an EGR valve. By keeping the rpms higher (between shifts, and when idling to a stop), at 1000-1600 instead og dropping to idle this burns any unspent fuel out the exhaust.
The Computer Controlled Throttle on the 6M SUCKS!!!!!!

 

ALL trucks dont shift like this! It is not bc it is a truck it is because of Toyota's shitty CCT, and the horrible delay it has!

 

It is not you it is how toyota designed the truck..... everything from emissions, to torque management, to warratnies comes into play. The 6M trucks are grossly shortchanged bc of all this. Mostly Toyota's fault for not fixing it after 5 years of unhappy manual tranny owners complaining! I think they are trying to make everyone so unhappy with the maunal trannys that it forces them to buy auto's. the 6M's get horrible gas mileage compared to the auto, there in no excuse to be turning 2500rpms at 70mph in a truck with 266 lb-ft of torque! that why we all average 16mpg.... like someone said earlier push in the clutch or shift into neutral when sometime and watch it idle at 1100-1300 rpm's... absurd!
URD SS helps some but not a cure all. well worth the money if you are a spirited driver.
Sorry rant off.

 

If you want it to shift like a sports car, use APR's kit and put in a T56.

 

Is that bad for the transmission??

 

I'm quite sure it is!

 

This has been a very enlightening thread...especially the last few posts. I'm somewhat disappointed now but not much I can do about it. Having said that, going to a bigger tire has helped with the short 1st gear. It feels somewhat normal now.

I too see how the engine doesn't return to idle quickly. First time I ever came across that in a vehicle. It's annoying when shifting but I think now after driving this truck for 2 months I have worked around it

 

Try adding Some royal purple manual tranny fluid .. personal experience leads me to believe it will improve the lubricity and your the smoothness of your shifting.
.02

 

it a TRUCK for heavens sake.
But the short throw is a no-brainer; X alot.

 

I'm 17 and almost all the trucks i drive can be shifted without the clutch. All over the road haulers do it. Occasionally I only start from a stop with the clutch, the rest are on the fly, its A LOT easier to do with a diesel though.

 

Rant away, you're right on in your assessment. I hated my 6spd so much I traded it for an auto. Prior to getting a 2nd gen I had a 94 Toyota Pickup with a 5spd and it shifted very smooth, much smoother than my brand spanking new 6spd.

 

Yep, I went through that complaint process too and got fed the same load of bull.

On the rare occasion I let someone else drive my Tacoma who can drive a manual but isn't used to the Tacoma, they almost always have a WTF reaction.

I have a friend who just drove my Tacoma a couple weeks ago who put it quite well with, "The engineers at Toyota must have been out of their minds when they did this."

 

Exactly. Don't give Toyota's poor design the excuse of "it's because it's a truck". That's bull. I've driven lots of other manual transmission trucks. This is the only one that's like this.

And in my opinion, the problem isn't just the lag in RPM drop when the accelerator is released. I also really hate the response delay (or lack of response at all) when you tap the throttle. It can make it hard to have a smooth start.

It's like you're not really controlling your engine speed. You're telling a little retarded electronic friend what you want him to do with the throttle through the accelerator, then he decides when and how to carry out that order. It can be extremely frustrating.

When it's time for a new truck, I'll test drive another Tacoma. If they haven't cleared up this crap then, I'll look at something else I guess.

 

PA452,,, How ya been, Long time no see.

Last time we chatted was on the CCT issue, that we hate so much.
I was hoping you would chime in on this. And of course I agree with you. It really tics me off when other people make excuses for toyota's shortcomings by saying "it's a truck" Just because it is a truck doesnt mean it is slow, or shifts poorly. Some pretty fast vehicle are trucks and no one makes excuses for them. SRT10, Dodge Ram Cummins, Duramax, Syclones and Typhoons, and I have a SBC 406 S10 with a 5 speed manual tranny that is anything but slow.

Anyways I agree about your 1st gen comments 110%, My six speed tacoma is now for sale, and I will be moving on to another vehicle. If I hadnt had 2 new tacomas in the last three years I would get an auto tacoma just like my manual, but time for something different. My GF 2006 T4R is a pleasure to drive silky smooth auto trans with 85k on the clock. If my tacoma was even in the same ball park as that I would keep it no questions.

 

I know what you mean. Some time when your truck is stopped and in neutral, give the gas a quick tap. The delay is atrocious. This along with all the throwout bearing hell stories make me wish that I'd bought the auto. I'd trade for the auto, but I'm sure they'd gouge me, so I've been getting used to the 6spd.

 

x2

I wish I would have logged more test miles on mine before purchasing. All in all I kinda liked my 2008 4x4 4cylinder 5speed Access Cab a little better. It was computer controlled too but was much more tolerable.

 

Not bad, haven't been on the Tacoma forums a whole lot though. I have had a couple threads going about a steering issue I'm having though. That's been going on for almost 2.5 months now.