92 Camry 5 speed (downshift into 3rd gear weird)

[suffolktoyota]

I just bought a 92 Camry 5-speed. All the gears work fine, however, something is strange about 3rd. I can shift up to 3rd gear 99% of the time quietly, but when I shift down to 3rd gear 99% of the time, there is a noise. Sometimes it is just a quiet bump but sometimes it is a slight grind. It goes into 3rd and does not pop out. My dad seems to think it might be a bushing? The guys I bought it from said it was NOT the clutch or transmission, but that it was some metal plate thing? I don't know, but it is really starting to bother me. I am hoping it is something simple. Advice please?
-G

[Killer Instinct]

Originally Posted by suffolktoyota

I just bought a 92 Camry 5-speed. All the gears work fine, however, something is strange about 3rd. I can shift up to 3rd gear 99% of the time quietly, but when I shift down to 3rd gear 99% of the time, there is a noise. Sometimes it is just a quiet bump but sometimes it is a slight grind. It goes into 3rd and does not pop out. My dad seems to think it might be a bushing? The guys I bought it from said it was NOT the clutch or transmission, but that it was some metal plate thing? I don't know, but it is really starting to bother me. I am hoping it is something simple. Advice please?
-G

Hmm, there shouldn't be any difference between shifting up or down except the revs. Have you tried shifting up to third while pushing the car to high revs? It should make that same noise. My best guess is that your third gear synchro is worn due to it taking some excessive abuse from a previous driver perhaps.

[DarkMastyr]

I'm thinking 4th-->3rd synchro is worn.

[cruisn76]

^ i concur

[ghettosled]

i third a worn synchro.

[CamryWilly]

It is the synchro!

I have the same problem with mine but on 4th. When I cruise around town and put the 4 one in, or accelerating for the highway from 3 to 4, no problem. But riding on the Highway wanting to pass someone I shift from 5 to 4 and it grinds a bit...

But there is a solution

You just have to do what people did when they didn't even have synchros!!!!!

... just Double Clutch.

If you do it right, it'll be smooth as new! And you won't be needing a new tranny in a year!

Damn these old Cam's are plenty of fun


William