question about YOUR definition of 2nd gear problems

[gto78]

Okay when all of you guys state that 2nd gear is bad, and it was a synchro, were all of you getting a grinding problem? Or was it just completely unable to go from 1rst to 2nd. And was it only at high RPM's that you had the problem?

I am troubleshooting a similar problem on mine. What IT'S doing is this: shifts smooth as glass at all times in all gears, NEVER once made the grinding noise, BUT at full power it wont shift into 2nd gear, you have to fukc with the shifter and wait a few seconds to get into 2nd.

I dont know if thats the synchro or a messed up cable, or wrong fluid etc. Maybe my clutch is sticking at high rpm's? dunno but its wierd.

[gto78]

okay i may have found something interesting here. I was given 2 seperate shifters from the salvage company for my tranny swap, because the first tranny was busted when i got it. The second tranny came with shifter and cables attached/ from same car. This is the tranny and shifter in my car now.

I just tried installing the first shifter and it will not go into 5th gear, or 6th gear, since the travel inside the transmission is greater than the shifter will allow. Also all the gears are just about in the same place. There are NO part numbers listed on anything, (thanks toyota:( ) but now i believe the tranny thats in the car has the 02 shift gates and the shifter that works with it is the updated one.

On top of all this, my problem shifting may be solved now:). I see that when pulling the shifter into 2nd its trying to move the cable towards the reverse gate at the same time. This is caused by some "Play" in the base of the shifter handle at the white plastic spacer. I cured the "play" by adding a shim to it. I am gettin ready to reinstall the shifter in a few minutes and maybe that will fix the problem.

[Griffin]

I had to drive an 01 that had the shift kit on it but no cables or shifter for a time... it was VERY difficult to get into 5th and 6th, 1st and 2nd, and reverse was dam near impossible.

Griffin

[gto78]

i dont know but reverse through 4th were all there, just too close to tell which was which. the connector on the cable was hitting the base of the shifter goin for 5th, and sixth was a little tricky.

OKAY so now since i shimmed the shifter handle at the white plastic piece it removed some of the play, but in order to shift real fast from 1st to 2nd you still have to pull towards 4th slightly. I have always pulled it towards myself for 2nd but that just engages the shift selector in the tranny toward the reverse gate. Then nothing happens, i just get blocked out of all gears since reverse doesnt do anything when you pull it the wrong way.

[gto78]

some pics of the two shifters if anybody knows what i have here, tell me. Maybe one is really a five speed shifter. I have a 5 speed knob on it but thats another story in itself. The shifter with the knob on it is the one that works, but is jammin up when going into 2nd while racing. the other one wont move far enough to go into 5th gear. http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid27/pa433c4bcaad4e7796d80c5cf9a83aa9e/fd774d86.jpg http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid27/p2ca4e1a98575783686a96c43a1a238ef/fd774dee.jpg

[XmbalmR]

So where is it exactly you put the shim, I've seen a little play in mine too.

[gto78]

the shim i made is temporary until i get the correct parts to fix it right. But anyways its at the base of the shifter handle. If you look at the install guides that everyone posts, you'll see a white plastic piece that the round ball part of the shifter handle rides on. The top outer part of that white piece has a small groove in it. I used a piece of metal wire (a little thinner than coat hanger) and made it fit in that groove. That took out most of the play. Its been a few weeks now and the problem just started again. I can still prevent it though by paying closer attention to how I shift. I have to make an effort to pull straighter back or even a little towards 4th and it falls right into 2nd like i want. Other wise i get blocked.......