MR2 Turbo Tranny Question, Please Help!

[cycleguy77]

I just bought a 1991 toyota mr2 turbo that does not go into gears 5th and reverse very well. What it does is, when trying to shift from 4th to 5th it will not go into that gear. It just goes back into 3rd gear when trying. To make it go into 5th, you must put it into nuetral, press the shifter in the direction of 1st gear and then slam it into 5th. Very strange. The gears do not grind and the clutch is recent. Reverse is very touchy, very hard to put it into reverse. It mostly goes into 4th gear when trying. Someone had told me that it could be the shifter mechanism rather than the tranny itself. Any help would be appreciated.

[eclypz]

This is a very strange problem indeed. I can't really envision what you mean by putting it in neutral, going towards first and then slamming into fifth, I just can't make that movement seem clear in my head.

If it all shifts smoothly then I would be willing to bet your shifter linkage is jacked. Hopefully someone else knows more...

[93turbomr2]

i was thinking the same thing eclypz.i just cant really picture what you are saying.i would have to agree that the linkage must be wrong somewhere.has the motor and or tranny ever been pulled form this car?

[86toyotamr2]

i think there may be something wrong with my tranny too. im not sure if you know a lot about mr2s but i have problem.i just replaced the head gasket and had the head resurfaced. but now that its all put back together, it has absolutely NO power at all, seriously, you step on the accelerator and it does not go, you can get it to start going eventually but it takes a VERY long time...im not exaggerating either. can you help me or do you know someone who can??

[MRQtwinturbo]

^^could it be ur clutch slipping???....are the revs going up but the car is not moving??......

[86toyotamr2]

my car's an automatic...its not turbo either.

[mkIImr2lvr]

^there's you're problem.

[JekylandHyde]

... sounds like a shifter cable is going ... or stretched.