Newbie With Grindin' Issues - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

nismoman88 · 02-11-2010, 05:41 PM

I am new to toyotas and camrys in all respects. Just bought a 1988 camry 2.0L 5spd with 203,000 plus miles on the clock and as i was driving it home on the interstate i went to downshift to 3rd, and it would not go into gear. Instead of forcing it i just slowed down a bit more and slipped it smoothly into 2nd, and kept doing this most of the drive. However once i got off the interstate i started hearing a slight grind from 2nd gear and a very loud grind from 3rd gear. Also this only happened once after a long drive on I-20 to 285 to 75 south (Atlanta, Ga). Is this just a clutch problem or is it something much worse? also it seems to have either a high idle or sticking throttle because when i go to stop at a redlight it just sort of stays at 2000rpms until i blip the gas pedal and then it goes back down to about 1000rpm. Any input would be welcomed and hello to all fellow 5spd camry drivers!

nismoman88 · 02-11-2010, 05:56 PM

jUST TO ADD IT WILL GOT INTO 3RD GEAR WHEN I AM SHIFTING NORMALLY UP THROUGH THE GEARS. It is just when i down shift it wont go into third. But the grinding did happen while i was shifting normally up through the gears and it happened in 2nd and 3rd so that is why i am worried.

Jimnist · 02-11-2010, 06:05 PM

Is it a quick grind? If so, your syncho's are probably on it's way out.

Shift the car into reverse, does it make a grind sound or is it hard? That's a good way to test if the clutch is adjusted properly because there's no synchro's on reverse.

Mike Gerber · 02-12-2010, 11:58 AM

Your car has a hydraulic clutch so check the fluid level in the clutch master cylinder. It is located right next to the brake master cylinder. If it is low, top it off with Dot 3 brake fluid to the full line and then check for a leak at the clutch master itself, (They usually leak fluid inside the car, up under the dash by the pedal and under the carpet. Pull the carpet back to check for fluid streaming down there.) and also check the slave cylinder (Also called the clutch release cylinder.) Squeeze the rubber boot and see if fluid comes out. If it does, the clutch slave is leaking.

Mike

white90dx · 02-12-2010, 01:28 PM

Drain the transmission fluid and swap it over to 1 quart GM syncromesh and the rest a 75w90 gear oil. That should help out with the grinding.

On downshifts into the weak gears, make sure you double clutch and rev match. Shifting up through the gears normally you should just be able to take it easy and it should go in.

It sounds like it has had a bit of a hard life at 205k miles from the previous owner(s). Treat it nice and it should still last many miles.

-Charlie

Edit: PS. Clean out the throttle body and Idle Air Control (IAC) valve. That *should* fix the high idle. It should idle at 1500-2000 only on cold start, then sit at 600-800 the rest of the time unless the A/C is on (then it should bump back up around 1000).

nismoman88 · 02-12-2010, 08:40 PM

I will try cleaning out the throttle body and IAC valve and also look at the slave cylinder. However today when i was driving i might have heard a slight grind when i was going into reverse. I am hoping that may be a sign that it is a clutch problem and not a tranny problem. But if it does turn out to be a tranny about how much do they cost, (used or new)?

nismoman88 · 02-13-2010, 11:18 AM

The intake cleaner did trick with the throttle. I checked the slve cylinder fluid it was full, also check the rubber boot it looked good. checked the inside of the car felt no fluid or saw none. have to drain and change manual transmission fluid next.

Mike Gerber · 02-13-2010, 11:44 AM

"checked the inside of the car felt no fluid or saw none"

Make sure you pulled the carpet back from the firewall, as that's where the fluid will run down if there is a leak in the clutch master.

Mike

mattjm · 02-19-2010, 11:06 PM

Learn to double clutch...if the grinding stops, then it's just the synchros.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_clutch

Also a useful skill if you drive *really old* cars, or volkswagen bugs (they *always* grind on the 3-2 downshift due to worn synchros).

nismoman88 · 02-20-2010, 08:12 AM

Yea i have been trying to remember to double clutch, also i have been having other troubles with the car. And yes i know how to drive a manual (just to cover the obvious), i drove a 190e 16v before this and sold it because it was too expensive to mantain. Had two manual maximas before that, one my dad now owns. Large oil leak from the motor. Now i am trying to wonder if it can last 4 years of college and i probably wont be living on campus, but if this keeps up, i may have to....