6 Speed Manual Problem?

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate
links, including eBay, Amazon, Skimlinks, and others.

M

Michael1

Joined
May 11, 2006
Threads
10
Messages
72
I just bought a new FJ Cruiser this evening, and noticed on the drive home from the dealer a possible problem with the 6-speed manual transmission. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it has a different feel than the other gears when upshifting. I can feel the 3rd gear "catch", and makes a slight clicking noise when it does. I'd say it does this about half the time. The other four gears go in pretty smoothly. I don't notice this downshifting from 4th to 3rd.

Anyone else notice this on theirs?

Michael
 
I don't recall any clicking. It do's hold the RPM when you go to shift... I'd have it checked out. The dealership should be able to push you to the front of the line as it is only a day old. I'm sure they will take care of you and have you back on the road ASAP:beer:
 
Michael1 said:
I just bought a new FJ Cruiser this evening, and noticed on the drive home from the dealer a possible problem with the 6-speed manual transmission. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it has a different feel than the other gears when upshifting. I can feel the 3rd gear "catch", and makes a slight clicking noise when it does. I'd say it does this about half the time. The other four gears go in pretty smoothly. I don't notice this downshifting from 4th to 3rd.

Anyone else notice this on theirs?

Michael
Click to expand...

No that's wierd. I would go back to the dealer and have them check it out.
 
TexasBadlands said:
No that's wierd. I would go back to the dealer and have them check it out.
Click to expand...

I have, in fact, noticed the same thing if I'm not careful. I have also noticed that it takes a second for the throttle to drop off after being released and clutch in. What I have found I need to do is make sure clutch is all the way to the floor and let the RPMs start to drop before engaging third.
 
Michael1 said:
I just bought a new FJ Cruiser this evening, and noticed on the drive home from the dealer a possible problem with the 6-speed manual transmission. When shifting from 2nd to 3rd, it has a different feel than the other gears when upshifting. I can feel the 3rd gear "catch", and makes a slight clicking noise when it does. I'd say it does this about half the time. The other four gears go in pretty smoothly. I don't notice this downshifting from 4th to 3rd.

Anyone else notice this on theirs?

Michael
Click to expand...

Now that you mention it I have noticed this too. Only 3rd, on both upshifts and downshifts. I double-clutch upshifts into 3,4,5,6 and all downshifts. Maybe that is why I picked up this habit...

I just attributed it the switching between a Miata and a truck. :confused:
 
mmmm I haven't noticed this at all.... and I have 10k miles on this truck 1k of them being wheeling miles... ehm... maybe you are just being paranoid... I mean it's a truck... I owned a 70 series back in venezuela and all the gears sounded rough when s***fting...

you're comparing a miata to a truck... shifts are not suposed to be smooth even though tey are..
 
I too have observed this in other gears, but for some reason it seems the worst in a 2 to 3 upshift. Perhaps they have dual cone sychronizers in 1st and 2nd, but not 3rd. I'm not giving Toyota latitude on the "truck vs. sport car" reference. I've driven plenty of trucks that don't do this. It also doesn't do it on every shift. I think Toyota's synchronizers are just flat inadequate to bring the two gears sets to the same speed, before the dogs engage, resulting in the notchy shift feel and the click sound as it engages. It's something they need to work on.

Michael
 
I haven't noticed it in mine, but when I'm in low range, it happens.
 
Here is the way I shift, and have no problems:

Push in on clutch HALF WAY, letting off accelerator FULLY, shifting at same time to next gear, and then letting out clutch as I press on accelerator with no jerky motions, no noise etc.

Smooth shifting comes with time, and every vehicle is different.
 
LandCruisers4Life said:
Here is the way I shift, and have no problems:

Push in on clutch HALF WAY, letting off accelerator FULLY, shifting at same time to next gear, and then letting out clutch as I press on accelerator with no jerky motions, no noise etc.

Smooth shifting comes with time, and every vehicle is different.
Click to expand...

While we appreciate the tip, I think you may have misinterpreted our comments. There is no problem with jerking. The problem is in the transmission sychronizers (clutch all the way in at this point).

I also noticed this evening that the problem is worse after the transmission warms up.

Michael
 
I've also noticed that when i first get in and start driving the shifting seems smooth and as the vehicle warms up I start notice the shifting get rougher.

The real question here is, Will this be a problem in the future?
 
Brazenhead said:
I've also noticed that when i first get in and start driving the shifting seems smooth and as the vehicle warms up I start notice the shifting get rougher.

The real question here is, Will this be a problem in the future?
Click to expand...

If you are concerned about the future, take it in and get it on record now. My 4 Runner used to pop out of 1st occaisionally, probably 3-4 time before it was out of warranty - could never reproduce, but by 175K, it popped out frequently. I wish I had gotten it in earlier to document the failure whiole it was still under warranty - even if the dealer could not reproduce the problem at the time.
 
Both my '89 and '98 4Runners occasionally were/are notchy going from 2nd to 3rd. Oddly, in the FJ Cruiser ads, they brag about triple-cone synchronizers in the manual transmission. Get the dealer to note the problem in writing, right away. On a brand new vehicle, replacing the tranny is likely the only practical cure.
 
Not a new problem.

As someone who has remanufactured many truck transmissions over the past years....I have found this to be a common complaint of reman or new units. There is nothing wrong or anything that needs to be repaired. The lubrication you use or the manufacturer uses is not always the best. To silence and smoothen out your transmission use a high grade PURE synthetic oil. I have been an Amsoil dealer for years for that reason. I eliminated a majority of warranty complaints by using synthetics. This may seem like an ad but I am not trying to sell product, I am recommending you find a source and get your oil there.
 
hotumps said:
As someone who has remanufactured many truck transmissions over the past years....I have found this to be a common complaint of reman or new units. There is nothing wrong or anything that needs to be repaired. The lubrication you use or the manufacturer uses is not always the best. To silence and smoothen out your transmission use a high grade PURE synthetic oil. I have been an Amsoil dealer for years for that reason. I eliminated a majority of warranty complaints by using synthetics. This may seem like an ad but I am not trying to sell product, I am recommending you find a source and get your oil there.
Click to expand...


I tend to agree with what you said. I don't see any transmission shifting 'problem', I think it is either individual's shifting technique, or need for better lube. I always run pure synthetics myself. I am running regular castrol for now til I break in the vehicle good, then will switch to full synthetics afterwards.
 
that's weird, most people that ride in my car tell me that they can't even feel me shifting. anyways, i've been a lot more comfortable in driving and shifting after i added the TRD knob for FJ/tacoma. it makes the shift feel shorter and smoother for some reason. maybe cuz it's the size of my fist?!?!
 
It's not that we are bad shifters and your feeling tugging or thrusting, it just doesn't feel right when we shift. when you shift from second to third you just hear a clunk and it feels a little loose. It may not be a problem but it's getting annoying. I'd also like to add that i've never owned an automatic transmission and would like to think i'm pretty good at shifting my manual transmission.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who are viewing this thread

Total: 1 (members: 0, guests: 1)

Share this page

Back
Top Bottom