Has anyone else experienced these problems?

1. Sometimes after sitting for a while (5 hours+), it is impossible to shift into first gear. Have to either let engine idle for about 60 seconds or shut off, shift into first, and restart. Problem lessens after a couple of shifts.

2. Getting "kicked" out of first gear. Letting off clutch, a loud thunk as tranny kicks back into neutral. Almost as if it wasn't fully engaged - but it was. This is a rarity, but is quite unnerving when it happens.

Any help diagnosing this would be great. I have a 1995 4Runner Limited 3.0L 4x4 V-6 with 5-speed. Plenty of gear oil in transmission. Thanks for the help!

-Matt

 

Judging by problem #2, this is your problem.

Good Luck

 

I have problem number 2!

 

Yep.. Shift seat is shot.. But a new one throw it in and see if it fixes your problem.. I bet it does, if not I got a 5spd you can buy for cheap!! LOL.. (seriously, I do have a spare one from a parts truck)

 

Really appreciate the help, guys. I was also thinking that the synchros were going out, but it didn't seem to have the other associated grinding-type problems. This will be much easier to fix. Thanks again, and I'll give you an update when I get done.

-Matt

 

MC, do post when you are done. It is a rarity for me too, but mine pops out of first sometimes. God I hate when that happens!

 

Dang! The rubber seat was in perfect condition. I was more than a little dissapointed that it wasn't in a thousand pieces. :cry: But the nylon bushing at the end of the shaft was pinched pretty badly in one spot, flattening that side and bulging the top up. Probably from my trying to jam it into first when people were waiting for me at a green light. :pat: I went ahead and replaced both the seat and the bushing while I was there, cause I had already bought the parts. The shifting definitely feels more crisp now. Hopefully this will clear up the popping out of first, but I may be in to the dealership for the not-shifting-into-first problem (synchros?). I'm still under warranty for another 2 years. Only took me about 30 minutes all together - super easy. Parts were 25 bucks total at the stealership.

 

How many miles on the clutch? If the throwout bearing is binding it won't let the clutch open enough to let the tranny engage 1st. I have no problem shifting into first after my clutch replacement. I still have trouble getting it in reverse but that is probably a worn synchro.