Trouble Shifting into 1st from a stop - Dealer says new transmission??

Have you done a search on here for those symptoms?

You're going to get a lot of a certain answer.

 

You probably just need a new shifter seat bushing...its a $10 part and the stock one crumbles apart over time making it hard to get into gear. Dealerships are notorious for overlooking it and blaming the issue on bad synchros or something.

At the very least, can't hurt to change it out and see if it helps. It's easy and cheap

 

You don't routinely down shift into first gear by chance, do you? I could throw out random parts, but I don't have enough info to help identify where the problem is stemming from.

 

Only a glutton for self punishment would ever do such a thing

 

Hence why I asked the OP how this predicament arose.

 

My ‘94 4WD PU did this when new so I had Toyota rebuild the tranny under warranty and it still did it. They said if it is hesitant to shift into 1st, let the clutch out in neutral then push in the clutch again and shift into 1st. This was a good solution and I never had any (other) issues with the tranny. I have noticed manual 1gen and 2gen Tacomas do this occasionally too. Never tried a manual 3rd gen so not sure about them however.

 

This is a great tip. Pump it like brakes.

It also will tell you if it's the hydraulics. (it is)

 

As in the clutch needs bleeding? My current truck does it sometimes too.

 

My 3rd Gen does this too,, I think all manuals trans do this.

 

Trying to identify if the clutch isn't disengaging, if your shifter is hanging up, or if you have a bad synchro. I suspect that based off of that practice, the fact that shifting is inconsistent under certain conditions, and that it's going on 16 years you have sufficiently worn down your first gear synchro. It sounds like the dog teeth aren't properly engaging on the shift collar inside the transmission. Redline fluid will remove any filings and offer smoother sifts under the conditions you know you can shift in. That being said, it's probably time to bring that trans into a shop to have it rebuilt.

I wouldn't be concerned about taking that truck as you haven't had any issues with second gear. Personally, I would feel comfortable (given what you have described) getting fresh fluid in the trans and taking the truck being mindful to not downshift past second on the drive down.

Hope this helps.

 

Sounds like you have a couple broken fins on your pressure plate.
I had this identical issue and that was the cause.

 

If you can pump it 2-3 times quickly and it goes into 1st......it's hydraulics. just buy new ones, they're old.

 

This is something similar I’m dealing with on my 03. I changed the fluid to MT90, replaced the shifter bushing and bled the clutch.

it’s smooth shifting into all other gears except 1st from a complete stop.

OP a solution to shift into 1st from a stop is to rev engine to 2k rpm and shift into 1st. That works for me.

most suggest it’s the pilot bearing. Good luck and keep us posted.

 

This. ^

 

Would not recommend. Will put wear on synchros.

 

Could you elaborate on this?

 

Reving in neutral and then shifting into first?

 

This. Especially if its cold. My 92, 04, 08 all did/do it. Nothing you can do to fix it. Changing the fluid may make it better.

 

shifter seat bushing and new fluid are quick and easy things to try and probably needed any way.

Here's what my original bushing looked like. All the little blackish/green pieces are all that was left of the bushing. I was having random getting into gear and also popping out of gear issues. This fixed both.

 

I'll have to check mine out. I had the same issues sometimes, and I just lift the clutch back up with my foot and it shifts fine afterward. Thanks for the info.