Hard shifts into reverse on FJ62

[HoustonFJ62]

Hello, I just bought a 1989 FJ62 and it shifts into reverse with a hard clunk. Once in Drive, it seems to work fine, although it seems to kick down a little late. Picked it up in Asheville, NC and drove it back to Houston, TX in one day. The Check Engine light came one, but it seems to be an oxygen sensor. It also sounds like it has an exhaust leak...don't know if it is at the engine/manifold or elsewhere. Back to my original issue, is that hard clunk normal in these trucks? I have read "yes" and "no" to that question on the web. Some say just step on the brake pedal HARD and to be honest, it works. Any help would be appreciated. Also, how much of a job is it to put a new exhaust manifold gasket on (or a man a fre header)? Is it a bolt-on deal? Thanks!

 

[Bama4door]

Mine clunks in reverse like you're describing, but it's intermittent and I don't know why.

 

[Alleycats]

When putting it in reverse try a little more pressure on the brake pedal that seems to help mitigate clunking with my a440f...

 

[Slow Left]

Have you checked the u-joints in the drive shaft? Sometimes when they go, there is play in the drive shaft and it can manifest itself with the symptoms you've described.

 

[KLF]

Search "McNamara Gear".

 

[banieldowen]

What RPM do you idle at? My TPS was out of spec causing mine to idle too high and clunk down hard into reverse like you are saying. Ran fine but adjusting the TPS solved my issue.

 

[Bama4door]

What RPM do you idle at? My TPS was out of spec causing mine to idle too high and clunk down hard into reverse like you are saying. Ran fine but adjusting the TPS solved my issue.

Sorry for the stupid question, but how do you adjust the TPS? Is there a screw on the tb?

 

[banieldowen]

FSM has full instructions. But in a nutshell you hook up an ohm meter to it. At different openings you should read within spec of the FSM. If you clean the tps with some carb cleaner, make site the spring is good, you can adjust the TPS a little by rotating it on the throttle body while you test. When you get it into spec you tighten down the screws.

That was sort of a convoluted answer but the FSM has full instructions.

 

[HoustonFJ62]

Thanks for the inputs. Is TPS the throttle position sensor? It does seems to idle a bit high and I will order the FSM tomorrow. Thanks again.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

Wait. This is not the TPS.

KLF has it right. This is the usual wear on the output shaft splines of the transmission. FJ62s are FAMOUS for this. It is normal. The teeth wear, causes a big "klunk" when shifted from drive to reverse or reverse to drive. Totally expected in FJ62s. A McNamara gear solves the problem.

Eventually you will need to fix it, and the McNamara gear is the easiest way. There are home brew versions or you could replace the output shaft and input gear for big $$$$, but the McNamara gear will do fine.

Don't go messing with the TPS unless you need to.

 

[banieldowen]

I wasn't trying to say its only the TPS, but the clunk could be a result of high idle...its part of trouble shooting on the internet. High idle should be examined first as it is the easiest to fix/troubleshoot and could be causing this.

 

[Dieseler]

Check your kick down cable for slack... mine did the same as well had shifting issues in foreward gears after I noticed the kick down had some slack I adjusted out the slack and it was night and day difference she is like a new Cruiser.
Dont over tighten it just get the slack out ...it adjusts at the valve body on the top of the motor there is a slack adjuster nut at the cable end. .

 

[KLF]

I've installed several McNamara gears in these trucks, including my own back in 2002. It's always the trans output shaft that wears on the A440. Transfer case has to come apart.

If you put it off, eventually all the splines shear off the shaft and you'll be sitting at a stop light and the truck won't move.

Adjusting the kickdown cable only affects the shift points on the trans, has nothing to do with the Death Clunk.

 

[Dieseler]

Hmm then it must of been the cruiser gods smiling down on me cause it went away after the adjustment my thoughts was it adjusted the rev point that reverse kicked into gear.