HELP: More transmission problems.

Meck · Post by **Meck** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 2:03 pm

Okay, it looks like transmission trouble has struck again. A while back, when fifth gear bit the dust on my '85 4wd wagon, with help from the information on this site I was able to replace the tranny with one from a junked vehicle. The "new" tranmission operates fine except for the following situation. Nine out of ten times (or more) when I shift out of fifth, it works perfectly. The one in ten times, though, when you start to pull it out of fifth, it will feel really tight and not want to come out. If I force it out into neutral, it will not go into any other gear other than back into fifth. If, when I feel the resistance, I leave it in fifth, let out the clutch and try to shift it again, it will usually shift perfectly on the second (maybe third) try.

My question: have any of you had these symptoms in your transmission? Do you have any clues about what is going on? Am I about to lose another fifth gear?

Any advice or conversation about this will be appreciated. Thanks.

Post by **Petros** » Wed Apr 25, 2007 6:59 pm

It sounds like either the linkage is giving up (worn parts), or the shifting forks are so worn that they sometimes pop out of their proper postion. Pushing them back into fifth repositions them.

If the interna shift forks are worn out then you have to replace or rebuild the trans. If I owned that I might consider filling the trans with half and half auto trans fluid (the pink stuff) and cheap gear oil. Then drive it until the trans is warmed up (high speeds, up hills, etc. through all of the gears) for an hour or less (get it good and hot) and then drain it and replace it with good oil. It may clean up any gunk and make it work better. The other thing to do is to remove the shift lever (easy) and inspect the linkage and plastic bushing on the end of the stick. If there is any slop or noticable wear repair or replace the worn parts.

Good luck.

Meck · Post by **Meck** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 5:11 am

I appreciate the tips and will try what you've suggested. At least I'll try it right after I repair the tractor which also broke yesterday. And with plowing to be done. When it rains it pours....

Thanks,

Meck · Post by **Meck** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 4:39 am

This is a followup on my original post and what has happened since. I pulled the shifter. Nothing was apparently worn but there was some oil on it and a lot of slipping around of the shifter under the circlip that holds it in place. I cleaned this off, reassembled, and it shifted fine for a couple of hundred miles before beginning to hang up again. I took it out, recleaned it, and reassembled. Again, it worked well for a while. The third time I took it out, I peened the edges of the circular piece that sits under the circlip so that it would be a tighter fit. It has shifted fine now for a thousand or so miles.

Post by **ARCHINSTL** » Tue Jun 26, 2007 1:38 pm

Good info.
Thanks for the followup.
Tom M.

takza · Post by **takza** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 5:01 am

Meck wrote: The third time I took it out, I peened the edges of the circular piece that sits under the circlip so that it would be a tighter fit. It has shifted fine now for a thousand or so miles.

I think that plastic piece that acts like a socket...wears. Could be replaced?

Post by **Petros** » Wed Jun 27, 2007 11:13 am

The plastic socket is a normal wear item that routinly needs to be replaced on most cars. Oddly on the tercel they seem to hold up pretty well, ususally something else gives up before the plastic socket (I have even seen the metal ball part of the lever worn out when the plastic socket was fine!). The plastic socket is inexpensive and easy to replace and should be if it is suspect.

It sounds like this is a case of worn likage. You might consider replacing the lever from a wrecking yard trans if you get the chance. Or did you by any chance get an extra shift lever with the new trans? If so you might consider swaping it out if your fix eventually gives up.