Won't go into gear after changing transmission oil

[tercle]

The 85 Tercel SR5 has been on ramps for a couple days.
It was running normally before that.
I drained and added transmission oil.

Now the shifter doesn't work.
I'm in Neutral.
I can't get into any gear.
The shift lever can move horizontally in the H pattern, but not vertically into a gear.

The clutch pedal feels normal.

Help, please.

[dlb]

Is that regardless of whether the car is running or not? If it will go into gear with the engine off but not once the engine is running, it's probably clutch-related.

If the problem is there even with the engine off, that's a pickle. Weird that it happened after a gear oil change. Did you notice any chunks in the oil or excessive metal sludge on the drain plug magnets?

If you have Facebook I would ask on the 4wd tercel group there. xirdneh (aka Robert walker) is the transmission guru and he frequents the fb page more than he does the forum these days.

[NWMO]

tercle,

Is there any chance you’re in an area with sub freezing temps? water in the shift housing?

I can’t picture anything else that could have happened. When a transmission is out of the car, it’s pretty easy to bump one of the shift rails and have these symptoms, but almost never while in the car. However, Luke Anthony just had (6 months ago or so) an experience after a roadside repair (water pump or something else engine related) and this somehow happened on Thunder Bucket. He limped it home in a high gear and then repaired after getting home, I believe by removing one of the side indent plugs and using a screwdriver to get the rail back in place. Are you on the unrelated Facebook page?

Chris

[SirFoxx]

which fill bolt did you remove?

[tercle]

which fill bolt did you remove?

The wrong one, I think.
I believe I pulled the wrong bolt on the passenger side, thinking it was the one that the FSM says to fill it at.

[dlb]

Keegan wins this round, lol.

Tercle, it sounds like you will need to remove the plug you filled the trans from and shine a light in and use a screwdriver to get the fork in there back into the right spot before putting the plug back in. That should fix it.

I always fill from the plug directly behind the driver side (aka left) CV axle.

[NWMO]

David,

I assume you still back out the bottom bolt to allow free oil flow to the back of the transmission?

Chris

[dlb]

David,

I assume you still back out the bottom bolt to allow free oil flow to the back of the transmission?

Chris

Yep!

[tercle]

Keegan wins this round, lol.

Tercle, it sounds like you will need to remove the plug you filled the trans from and shine a light in and use a screwdriver to get the fork in there back into the right spot before putting the plug back in. That should fix it.

I always fill from the plug directly behind the driver side (aka left) CV axle.

Thanks.
Got cut short by other problems and hope to fix it tomorrow.
Looks like I might need to drop the transmission a little to be able to view inside that hole.

[SirFoxx]

Keegan wins this round, lol.

Tercle, it sounds like you will need to remove the plug you filled the trans from and shine a light in and use a screwdriver to get the fork in there back into the right spot before putting the plug back in. That should fix it.

I always fill from the plug directly behind the driver side (aka left) CV axle.

Thanks.
Got cut short by other problems and hope to fix it tomorrow.
Looks like I might need to drop the transmission a little to be able to view inside that hole.

if you had the front end jacked higher up than the rear, the fork will be towards the front of the trans

[tercle]

Well...
I thought I had it, but...

I never got to the point where I could actually get at the level to see straight through that hole,
but I probed with a #2 Phillips screwdriver and the pivot pin that I removed then went in smoothly.
Then I was able to shift into 1, 2, 3 and 4 and back to Neutral (didn't try 5), whereas before the stick would not go in and out of those gears.
I thought I had it!

I removed the rear jack stands, put it into Reverse and backed off the ramps and uphill into the alley.
Then I COULDN'T GET OUT OF REVERSE!
So I held the clutch pedal down and rolled it downhill and made a left into the parking spot.

Jacked it back up and probed that hole more.
Stick is still jammed in Reverse position.
Pivot bolt won't go fully in now but I can't feel what is blocking it.
Although the stick is still in Reverse (or maybe further than the Reverse position), the car is in Neutral now.

Sorry to say, I will probably be putting it up for sale soon in Seattle.

[NWMO]

tercle,

Likely best to pull the transmission at this point. If you don’t have a spot to work on it, it’s tough. Good luck with whatever you decide.

Chris

[tercle]

Thanks.
I watched Robert's disassembly video and I see you have to start from the back and work forward.
Looks like fun, but I am not up to it.

[NWMO]

tercel,

I’m not suggesting an overhaul or anything. I would expect you could get things back in order much more easily with the transmission out of the car.

Chris

[SirFoxx]

tercel,

I’m not suggesting an overhaul or anything. I would expect you could get things back in order much more easily with the transmission out of the car.

Chris

either way, it has to come out, and get completely torn down. my guess is one of two things -- 1. the reverse idler came out of the fork that the bolt holds that was removed at the beginning of the post or 2. the shift finger that pushes or pulls the selectors has popped out of place. its an easy fix, but is daunting for someone that hasnt done this before.