Tranny Freeze!

[Typrus]

Well, I think I have water in my tranny. She has been freezing in gear in the cold. How can I look for and remedy this? It only happened recently, during the snows... So whats different now versus last year, or any time earlier in the year when it was cold? What should I be looking for?

Thanks guys.

Man... I've been running cheapo WalMart garbage for dang near 20k now.... Poor Terc... I really need that $$ for the Schaeffer's....

[JOE]

I had the same problem a couple of years ago. I always parked the car facing the garage and came out in -20 weather one morning and couldn't get it in reverse. That happened twice-then I backed it in and went out forward, after driving for awhile it would free up.

Anyway, getting sick and tired of this problem I took it in to be looked at and what was happening was snow was getting up on top of the tranny by the shifter and melting then freezing. So I went home, pulled off the center console and coated the shifter ball and joint(s) in grease and haven't had a problem since.

Try it, may be the same problem I was having.

[takza]

Man... I've been running cheapo WalMart garbage for dang near 20k now.... Poor Terc... I really need that $$ for the Schaeffer's....

I've come to the conclusion that it's better to just use good dino gear oil and change it out once a year. That way you are sure the level stays OK...and you lose some grit and so forth. COST? Maybe $10.

[keith]

First just take out your console. Then remove the stick. You can remove the retaining ring and pull up or you can remove the six bolts around the top plate and remove the stick that way. For me, removing the six bolts has always been easier.

You will see where your ice/water is collecting. After you remove it, pack it with a general purpose grease. You will need to look at repairing or replacing the rubber boot for the stick. I just coated my old boot with RTV. Thats how the water and slush get into the shifter. If the water gets into the transmission and freezes, I'm afraid it could destroy the transmission. I doubt any got in there but it wouldn't hurt to change the oil, in weather above freezing. If there is any water, it will drain out first.

Anyway, the difference between this year and last is that the boot for the stick split open and allowed water in to the shift linkage.

[takza]

If you seat the ball/socket in lots of axle grease and put some on top when it's in...it acts as a secondary water seal. That's after a cup or so of gear oil.

Since I didn't want to bother going to the dealer and buying the boot....I made a boot from flannel....greased it good and plastered it down around the trans top...held with a ss clamp...you need lots of grease since there is more air flowing around the trans than you might realize.

[Iain]

Here is how my day started yesterday: (sorry this is kinda long winded)

We got our first real sub-zero temps over night last night. I get up in the morning and have a quick look at new posts on Tercel4WD.com, and see the topic about "Tranny Freeze!" scan over it quickly and think to my self "sux 2 B them"

Next, I run out to my car to go to work. I fire up the Turtle, let it run for about 3 or 4 minutes, go to put the car in reverse, and.......I CANT MOVE THE SHIFTER OUT OF NEUTRAL! So, after a few choice words, I get out of the car and walk to work in what was out first real snow squall of the winter.

On that long walk I remember JOE and keith's responses to Typrus' question, and take solace in knowing that must be the problem.

After work, I hop in the Terc, figuring that if I let her idle long enough, the trans will defrost....well, after 1/2 an hour and no movement, I began to get worried. So, with the car still running, i began to take the center console apart, next, remover the emissions boot, to my dismay, the top of the trans-shifter boot was gone... I had to improvise so, I splashed a teaspoon of rain-x winter washed fluid in the hole in the boot...It worked-!!

Right away, I drove to my shop and took the 6 bolts off of the plate and this is what I saw:



Then I cleaned it out with a shop vac and high pressure air:




Puts that first pic into perspective huh?

Next, I filled the area with grease like JOE and keith said to:



LOTS OF GREASE!

Next, I fixed the gap in the boot with a zip tie around the top of the boot:





Buttoned her back up together, and took her for a drive in her first snow!

Thanks to anyone who stuck around long enough to read all of that!

But, a big thanks to everyone who posted their answers to this thread!!! I hope I can help someone out as much as you guys helped me!!!

Regards,
Iain

[ARCHINSTL]

Iain -
Good write-up and pix !
And good suggestions from all!
Thanks.
Goldie has been working just fine in this department, but this looks like an easy/quick check/lube to do this weekend.
I wonder (while I've not had the console off yet) - would another type of bellows fit - like a cut-down steering rack boot from the Tercel or another car? Maybe take the boot to a parts store and do some looking - maybe the counter guy would recognize it from another vehicle?
Tom M.

[Dirtmagnet]

Wow! The Tercel anti-shift god's must be at full power. This happened to my son just this morning. The temp was in the upper teens this morning in Georgia. BRRRRR.

This had happened a couple of times last year, and he learned to back it in on the cold mornings. I just changed all of the fluids last weekend thinking I had water in the tranny, (we have been submerged a time or two)but nothing. I never new about water collecting on top. Thanks for the input on correcting the problem. I will check ours out tonight.

This has to be the greatest site on the web.

[takza]

Must be easier to get to those bolts on the later models...with the '83 and '84 I've seen...the 2 front ones are about impossible to get to...not to mention snapping a couple off.

That boot fix will last only so long though....

[Iain]

Must be easier to get to those bolts on the later models...with the '83 and '84 I've seen...the 2 front ones are about impossible to get to...not to mention snapping a couple off.

Those two front bolts are the hardest part of the whole job. These wrenches made it easier:

That boot fix will last only so long though....

I know, it's just a quick fix for now. But I made sure the boot allows more than the full range of movement of the shifter with out over stressing the boot.

[ARCHINSTL]

Iain -
Check out the pix in this link for a member's similar problem earlier this year, and just see what you will be missing since you fixed it:
https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17 ... ht=shifter

Tom M.

[takza]

Those two front bolts are the hardest part of the whole job. These wrenches made it easier:

Those are some NICE wrenches. I have some of those racheting types...but they don't have that flexible end. I bought mine from HarborFreight and didn't think they'd have much strength...but they've handled everything I've used them for.

I buy cheap tools and am saddened by the fact that most are actually pretty good quality these days. NOT.

[Iain]

Iain -
Check out the pix in this link for a member's similar problem earlier this year, and just see what you will be missing since you fixed it:
viewtopic.php?t=1746&highlight=shifter

Tom M.

Wow! Thank god I fixed it in time!

[kamiphloj]

I ran into this several years ago and have mentioned in the forum the boot is critical.
Are new boots no longer available?
I think I used the pickup tube on my solvent sprayer to suck the water out.A wet shopvac would also work.
I'm not sure about chemical compatability,but I then put some denatured alchohol in and vacuumed it dry again.Then let it dry out a while I used a little grease on the moving places,but no general packing.I have had no trouble since.
I think maybe keep the water out,and no need for the grease mess.If you had to make do for a while,maybe a chunk of fat tire bicycle inner tube?

[ARCHINSTL]

I ran into this several years ago and have mentioned in the forum the boot is critical.
Are new boots no longer available?
I think maybe keep the water out,and no need for the grease mess.If you had to make do for a while,maybe a chunk of fat tire bicycle inner tube?

Darn -
You stole my thunder on this one! As a former bike shop owner, I should have suggested this - and to think I just used a tube section to internally encircle the front wiper mounts to eliminate leaf entry!
This looks like an eminently clever permanent fix, and cheap, too; just visit any bike shop for a used tube. Zip tie it at the top and ditto on the bottom (or attach it with silicone at the bottom - I dunno if there is a big enough "lip" for a zip tie). In fact, cut a couple and duct tape the spare to the inside of the console, in case there is a "next time."
When I check mine, I think I'll do this mod even if the OE one is intact - for an extra level of insurance...
Tom M.