03-08 - 5 Speed Trans. Shift Smoothness - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

ryan_t888 · 10-28-2009, 09:23 PM

I own an 04' ce with approx 116 000km (72 500 mi)

I am noticing that 3rd gear is extremely notchy at times. I can be entering 3rd gear slowly or quickly, it still feels notchy. The colder it is outside the worse this feels. Once the fluids warm up it tends to be smoother but still very notchy. The only way to eliminate this totally is to have a seamless rev matching shift. I tend to either double clutch 2nd to 3rd or miss 3rd and enter/rev match 4th. 1 - 2 - 4.
4th gear and 2nd gear are my smoothest gears. 5th gear doesn't feel notchy but is not all that smooth.

I have bled the clutch hoping I'd get smoother shifts. Seemed to make things smoother at first but I think this is just me trying to convince myself there was an improvement. Next step I want to take is either go for some Asmoil or Redline gear oil. I have read this makes a decent improvement.

From some of the search results I have come across, I am not alone with this issue with 3rd gear. I'd like to know how many others are experiencing something similar to this? Also why is it common for 3rd gear to have the issues? Has anyone replaced the synchros and/or other tranny parts, if so at how many mi/km?

Ryan

TrdSpeed140 · 10-28-2009, 09:58 PM

well with 72,500 miles on it, I'm sure a trans fluid change will help a lot!

mikered30 · 10-28-2009, 10:13 PM

Go with redline GL-4 oil.

JasonA · 10-29-2009, 07:36 AM

3rd and 5th gears on my '07 LE are also the least smooth. 3rd to 4th is the smoothest shift on mine. Redline MT-90 oil helped out a lot on smoothness. The whole transmission feels like butter now. Though everything is smoother overall with the MT-90, 3rd and 5th are still the least smooth.

ryan_t888 · 10-29-2009, 03:58 PM

I already made the move with AMSoil since Redline seems to be harder to find in Canada. From what I have read both are fairly good so I'm confident in my decision.

Wonder why 3rd and 5th gear seem to be the most notchy or least smooth and 4th gear is the smoothest in all our transmissions.

Ryan

02zx9r · 11-04-2009, 12:58 PM

I have noticed that 3rd is kinda notchy for me too. I notice it more when it is colder out as well, but it still does it in warmer times too. Even with the amsoil mtg it still does it.

I think I read somewhere when shifting from 2nd-3rd to shift into neutrel, leave it there for a second, then go into third and that does seem to help at times.

You already saw where I changed out the ff fluid etc... in the other thread so I wont bother posting it here.

ryan_t888 · 11-04-2009, 01:22 PM

I swapped the original fluid for Amsoil Severe Gear.

First day after fluid was changed, going in to gear felt great. After the next several days 3rd gear began to feel rough again.

If I go from 2nd to 3rd quickly or slowly it is still notchy/rough. If I go from 4th to 3rd it is always smooth. I don't understand why the synchros have a harder time slowing the input shaft down to match speeds vs speeding the input shaft up to match speeds.

I also drove an 06 5 spd just to compare and it was a lot smoother.

Ryan

02zx9r · 11-04-2009, 01:37 PM

Like you mentioned, it seems to happen with it is cold out or the car/fluid hasnt warmed up even in the summer time.

I think I just got used to it and dont really pay much attention to it anymore, but I do notice it from time to time.

I believe I read on either bob is the oil guy or researching it like you did that all the corolla trannys do that so...

ryan_t888 · 11-04-2009, 01:43 PM

I'm just hoping this notchy/rough feel is not the gear grinding down to nothing. I really like my 3rd gear, it comes in handy.

Ryan

RawDarkness · 11-07-2009, 08:40 PM

May just be weather related since winter is on its way if not already here for many more up north. I started noticing my shifts didnt feel smooth and clean going from one gear to the next. Clutch also feels a little stiff in the cold. Never had this issue in the summer or warmer times.

I would say try getting your car to warm up to the midway line on the engine temp gauge and drive from there. If it is better it may just be the cold

TrdSpeed140 · 11-07-2009, 10:16 PM

to OP, just out of curiosity, what are the first 2 digits of your VIN? i just wanna know which plant your car was manufactured at, just out of curiosity, again.

ryan_t888 · 11-08-2009, 05:43 PM

The transmission was still notchy in the summer.

First 2 digits are 2T. What des this represent in terms of location of manufacture?

Ryan

TrdSpeed140 · 11-08-2009, 06:44 PM

2-Canada
T-Toyota (Canada Toyota plant)

I was just wondering where it was manufactured because many of the Corollas made at the california NUMMI plant had some transmission problems.

ryan_t888 · 11-08-2009, 07:47 PM

Ah yes thanks for the information. I also heard more of the tranny problems were occuring in the 2003 Rolla's.

Ryan