Thought I would throw this topic out there to see what people's opinions are and if anymore people experience the same thing. My 94 5speed shifts pretty notchy from 1st to 2nd and back. It's worse when's it cold it seems. I already changed out the gearbox oil, well actually a dealer did it as well as adjusted the freeplay in the clutch. The big catcher is it is never consistent. Sometimes it's really bad sometimes shifts like a dream which to me eliminates the syncros. The other thing is when it's cold out like when I first leave in the mornings the clutch is real grabby like it has a flat spot, causes the truck to jerk a bit. After the first couple takeoff's it's fine. I am pretty much illiterate to hydraulic clutches. Could it maybe be a weak master cylinder? I would like to just try and narrow down what it is. I hate the replace the clutch for some big bucks if it still works but the shifting get's annoying. Sometimes you have to double clutch it to get into second. So what's your all's thoughts?? I know if it works I shouldn't mess with it but something is bound to go eventually!

 

It may be something as simple as the bushing for the shifter. I had this happen on my old '92 truck and 1st to 2nd shift was a bitch when cold. The other symptom is popping out of first. Anyway, the part is cheap and easy to replace from what others have said. I had the dealer do mine as I originally thought it was something more serious, fortunately it was about a $100 repair job. I would look up the part for you, but I gave all the records to the new owner when I sold the truck.

 

Here's a write-up of what Hermes is talking about...http://www.off-road.com/toyota/tech/shifter/index.html You might want to think about using Redline MTL fluid too. This made a huge difference in my truck, especially during cold weather.

 

Slick 50 also makes a manual transmission additive that improved the ease of shifting my '89 truck. Might be worth a try.
Jim