grobbins6

First, a quick hello to you all and a thank you for the fantastic disussions...first post but have been lurking for a while.

Now for the meat....(I tried to search the forum but did not come up with anything; please forgive if this has already been covered)

My '03 5-speed Tacoma 4x4 shifts very poorly from 1st to 2nd. The rest of the throws are fine, but from 1-2 is very sticky. In addition, from when shifting from N to 1st I hear a noticable "clunk" just before it slips into gear. I have seen some discussion on other forums but it has been limited to "me too" comments. I am wondering if anybody here has any info/advice/experience with this problem before I head back to the dealer. Do the 4Runners have the same problem?

Thanks.

rimpainter.com

My Runner does the same thing. Not so much the sticky 1-2, but more the N-1 "clunk." I wouldnt worry too much, I hear these tranny's are really strong.

Since we are on the topic. Do you hear a very notable "whine" in the lower gears? Especially 1st gear, growing fainter as gears are selected 2, 3, 4, etc. I REALLY hear it in 4LO.

At all times my Runner sounds like one of those WRC cars when they do the cockpit cam and you can hear that faint gear whine in the backround.

I hope this is normal. Tranny fluid is ok, I checked that. Just curious about yours...

injektilo

Everything you guys have described I've noticed with mine too. Going from N to 1st bugs me more than the 1 - 2 shift.

Kevin

rimpainter.com

So you have gear whine too?

billyho

My '97 Tacoma does the same thing from 1st to 2nd. It must be that tranny. And it also does that faint whine noise all the time.

injektilo

Yeah, mine whines a little. Not bad but it is there.

Kevin

billyho

For what it's worth: From reading other posts on this site the 3.4 engine and 5spd trannys are built extremely well and are about bulletproof.

joez

those transmissions are way overbuilt for what they are used in. they were built to handle the trd supercharger on a 3.4, and still outlast the rest of the truck. i know what you guys mean, it would bother me more if i drove the tacoma, but i have my own truck. i personnally wouldnt worry too much about it

Biohazard

I have a '99 Taco and I get serious whine in lower gears. To be honest, I never really thought about it until now. It will probably bug the snot outta me now. I also get the clunk to from N to 1. My ride has done both from day one, so I figured it was just the way things were gonna be. Major trust in Yoyodas.

rimpainter.com

You sure that's why they built them?

I thought the S/C came out after the trans. Just curious, I really dont know. Either way they are strong!

oly884

My '90 pickup does all that also, I guess it's just reasurance that the clutch and transmission have engaged. I've got a V-6 with mine. It's done that for 160,000 miles, so I guess it isn't bad, just noise.

grobbins6

No whine that concerned me. 4L has a pronounced whine, but I figured it it was just the lower gearing winding things up.

Seems the shifting problems (stick, clunk) are quite common but still no word from anyone who has had them addressed. I will chat with the dealer, but don't hold much hope and am not as concerned now.

Oh well, maybe Jay will poke his head into the thread and offer his $.02...if he has not been run off by all the questions he is getting!

zedex

yup. My 98 does it too. If i shift like a granny then its quiet. I called 2 seperate toyota dealerships about it. They said they have never heard of this. But anyways..Those trannies are very strong. Just have to live with it i guess.

rimpainter.com

I actually kinda like the gear whine. It makes me think I am Colin McRae or something...but then I realize my truck isn't that fast.

joez

the supercharger had been in development right arround when the tacoma was to debut. they wanted to make sure the drivetrain could handle the performance arm of Toyota. so they rediculously overbuilt the drivetrain. and the gear whine, they all do that, you should hear the trucks backed with the gear drive t-case. now thats a whine.