Strange shifting problem

[toyotajake37]

I just picked up an '83 SR5 to replace my '84 SR5 that I sold a few weeks ago. It is a bit of a beater with 200k miles on it, but I like it. On my drive home with it I ran into a very strange transmission/shifter/linkage/i don't know problem. I was shifting into fourth gear and must not have had the clutch all of the way in as the gears made a bit of a grinding noise. Then suddenly my shifter went completely slack. I could move the shifter pretty much anywhere, twist it, turm it, etc. and it felt like it was just disconnected. I pulled over and tried moving it around with the clutch in and the clutch out but still it was like it was just loose in place. I then turned the car off, and then back on and suddenly I could find all of my gears. I've put maybe 10 miles on it since then with no issues.

My only thought is that it is a loose conection in the linkage or shifter that got bumped off when I groudn 4th gear and then somehow in moving the shifter about it caught again. I haven't had a chance to take a closer look yet, but wanted to get any input from you guys to give me an idea of where to look. The car shifts nice and smooth now without any apparent problems.

[marlinh]

The only thing I can think of is the circlip holding the shifter in place has popped off. You can check it by pulling off the plastic cover (4 philips screws) and then the 4 ten mm head bolts that hold the rubber shifter cover in place. It's a long shot but worth checking. The base of the shifter sits in a t shaped slot and could easily have popped out and back in again depending on how the shifter was moved.

[Petros]

Marlinh's guess is best. I would pull the shift lever out completely and inspect the plastic parts on the bottom of the shift lever to see what condition we they are in, replace if necessary. I would also lubricate all of the parts below the boot and dust sheild.

If it is not the linkage, than there is a chance the shift forks, internal to the trans, are so worn they can pop out and back into place. these push the shifting sleeves on the gear cluster than will engage or disengage each of the gears. If that is the case, than the trans needs to be removed, torn down and than parts replaced.

If it is just the linkage issue, than likely you can put it all back and continue to drive it. If it is an internal problem, it will occur again, and perhaps more frequently, and you will know what has to be done. Or find another good transmission. hope for the best, but plan for the worst.

[dlb]

agreed with marlinh. while you have the shifter out, check the bushings. there is a small one that sits on the very bottom tip of the shifter, and one in the cup in which the shifter sits. these will not be the cause of your problems but if they are worn out they will cause the shifter to be sloppy and make shifting difficult. here are some pics of said bushings.

https://tercel4wd.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=2& ... ing#p55679

[Ace]

deleted

[Petros]

the 4wd transmission shift linkage is completely different design, it is all internal to the tail-shaft housing and used push/pull rods. It is hard to imagine it slipping out far enough so it would not shift, unless it was able to withdraw straight up as Marlinh suggested.

There is nothing like the external parts on this linkage as on the T4wd Trans. the 2wd Tercel trans has something similar hanging off the back of the trans housing, but not the 4wd.

[toyotajake37]

And the winner is ... Marlinh! Turns out what was happening was that when I shifted into fourth I pulled the shifter out a bit because the snap ring was not in place to hold it in. I opened everything up, snapped the ring back in, and now everything is tight. It makes sense as the PO said that he had lubed the shifter at one point due to hard shifting. He must not have put it back together properly. Thanks guys!

[marlinh]

Glad that I could help and it was an easy fix. Many happy miles driving your new tercel.