ugly shifting - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

fatngs · 07-05-2011, 09:35 PM

from the day ive had my car, the transmission hasnt been the greatest with shift quality..... but the 5-speed's are known for this (as per toyota service records the fluid was changed at aound 28k and i bought it with 33)

about a year ago i did a service drain (didnt drop the pan) and threw in a bottle of lucas tranny additive..... results were reasonable and shifting was a bit better

about a month ago i had to replace a broken tranny cooler hose..... i didnt drive the car for about 4 days and sat with no tranny hose (fittings left open and water may have possibly entered); i replaced the hose and lost fluid and hooked up the battery..... and ever since the shifing has sucked even worse.... it feels like the "clutches" between the gears is engaging too long altho its not shifting too hard; the fluid is stil pink but a little dark from fresh

so i've been thinking of doing a "homemade" tranny flush then dropping the pan and changing the filter and cleaning the pan & magnets then filling it up with fluid and probly another bottle of lucas.... so here are a few questions....

1. i was thinking of using castrol import ATF because i can get a discount or should i spend extra and get toyota ATF?

2. i was also thinking of ordering a beck-arnley filter kit or again should i get OEM?

3. any tips on removing the LH side pan bolts?

4. does anyone know of a computer update availble for the 5-speed?

thnxx

***Joe Dirt*** · 07-06-2011, 10:34 AM

What are the shift issues?

***arabianobsession*** · 07-06-2011, 11:38 AM

It looks like Toyota hasn't improved their transmissions for the 6 speeds, either. I'm curious to see if your shifting problems are similar to mine. At 2500 miles I swapped out my tranny fluid for Royal Purple, which made a (small) difference.

justin440 · 07-08-2011, 07:46 PM

from what I've researched it's an ECM issue, not related to fluid or any real mechanical parts. There is a TSB for shift issues involving a reflash, but not sure what that actually is meant to fix. My car has shifting issues as well, with 70 K, clean-as-new-fluid, and driven like a grandma. It seems to get better with different kinds of gas. It likes BP the best.

johnfrisco · 07-08-2011, 08:18 PM

Every 30K miles needs a new transmission filter. As to the fluid I would do a drain and fill with Toyota OEM.

***arabianobsession*** · 07-08-2011, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justin440

from what I've researched it's an ECM issue, not related to fluid or any real mechanical parts. There is a TSB for shift issues involving a reflash, but not sure what that actually is meant to fix. My car has shifting issues as well, with 70 K, clean-as-new-fluid, and driven like a grandma. It seems to get better with different kinds of gas. It likes BP the best.

That TSB is for automatic transmissions...my shifting issues are more for a constant grinding 2nd gear, even when the car was new.

(OP: I probably shouldn't have assumed you meant 5 speed manual? Usually when you say "5 speed" you mean manual trans. I probably read into it wrong

)

justin440 · 07-08-2011, 08:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arabianobsession

That TSB is for automatic transmissions...my shifting issues are more for a constant grinding 2nd gear, even when the car was new.

(OP: I probably shouldn't have assumed you meant 5 speed manual? Usually when you say "5 speed" you mean manual trans. I probably read into it wrong

)

I typed my reply, then realized you said "5-speed". I left my reply anyway, just in case it helps someone in some way, shape, or form. So I messed up, not you...

***arabianobsession*** · 07-08-2011, 08:49 PM

It's all good.

fatngs · 07-09-2011, 09:35 PM

well i just got back from a short road trip.... about 500 miles mostly highway doing about 80 and driving like a jackass..... car did pretty good... transmission was fine but i was running mostly in the higher gears.... it seemed like it didnt mind the heat which i thought was odd but i do remember my transmission is extremely jerky during winter months wen its not warmed up

i'm probly going to do the fluid job sometime next week ($$ issues) then ill let u all kno

i wish i could get a reflash but im sure its not cheap plus the dealer will want to "dignose" it which will be alot.... on my moms POS town & country the dealer did a reflash and a flush and the shifting was much better

ed310 · 07-09-2011, 10:04 PM

im having a shifting issue on my 05 Camry LE A/T. all shifts are fine except when shifting from Neutral to Drive; the engine/car jerks forward. it does not make a difference if the car is cold/hot. what can it be?

fatngs · 07-09-2011, 10:15 PM

wut are the RPMs wen u shift it

ed310 · 07-10-2011, 04:26 PM

rpm's are usually about 800.
on top of this problem i also have a "gear light on instrument issue".
so today i turned on my car and let it warm up, no problem
shifted down to drive, car turned off on N
turned car back on in P, now i have the check engine light on
just great

fatngs · 07-10-2011, 09:44 PM

ouch.... well get it scanned (advance does it for free) and let us knoo

ed310 · 07-14-2011, 03:02 PM

so i ended up taking the car to the dealer since it still has extended warranty (hoping that whatever was wrong would be covered)
turns out that it had a bad motor mount and a bad safety switch
the reason why it would stall during the shift was bc of a faulty safety switch (also was the solution to the gear light on cluster problem)
motor mount was replaced and now it shifts smooth again
hopefully this will help others