New owner with gearbox/gearchange questions

Anonymous · October 28, 2005, 22:01

Hi.

My other half is the proud owner of a 2003 MR2 roadster in black with red cloth interior and A/C. We're both very happy with the car, having owned it almost a month now.

However I am a little concerned with the gearchanging and wanted some advice regarding if what I am experiencing is a 'feature' or a possible problem. I did a search but didn't find anything relevant.

The problem appears worse when the engine/gearbox is cold - I find the car will not go into first gear unless its totally stationary. Also, I sometimes find shifting from 5th to 3rd a problem with 3rd being relucant to engange and tonight an enthusiastic 4th to 2nd sustained change resulted in a very notchy action.

The car has 27k on the clock and was bought 2nd hand from a Toyota dealer with full 1 years Toyota warranty. It has FSH and had the clutch replaced at 10k following a clutch judder the previous owner was experiencing. The clutch action feels fine with a positive bite at about 1/4 way up the pedal.

I am an experienced driver and curious as to whether the gearbox is faulty, the clutch isn't fully disengaging or if the gearchange mechanism isn't properly aligned. Any help is appreciated.

Slacey · October 28, 2005, 22:38

Is there any chance there has been a short shifter fitted at any point? The issues you mention could point to that. If not, it doesn't sound right - the shift action with the stock shifter is pretty smooth. Where are you located? It is probably best to try another car and someone try yours, that way you will know for sure if there is a problem or not.

proeliator2001 · October 29, 2005, 11:02

I've got a 2004 6 speed model and find exactly the same - it is stiff and sometimes needs to be double declutched to get in gear - I've got more used to it and take my time now with changes (my old car was like a well oiled rifle bolt and changes could be done in a fraction of a second). It will grow on you and unless you get serious problems, I'd say it is a feature (!) rather than a problem.

aaronjb · October 29, 2005, 11:21

I wonder if it's a post '03 thing? I've never driven the two back to back, but I've never had a shift fail to go in with the 5-speed box (and believe me, I don't shift slowly.. which is how I snapped the clutch cable on the Renault once s:lol: :lol: s:lol: )

roger · October 29, 2005, 13:01

It could be the bushes in the engine bay (that translate the gear cable movement to the box) going a bit soft.

I would have thought an 03 would not have this problem yet, but if it is, replacing these is a relative easy job, either with replacement rubber ones from MrT, or brass ones from http://www.twosrus.com/new/Lower_Frames/Products/Purchased/shiftbushings.htm

However if you have a warranty I would certainly get an opinion first - even if you end up ignoring it!

kanujunkie · October 29, 2005, 16:28

the bushes will make it harder if anything to get into gear, i've got em and sometimes when its cold it can be a bit of a bastard, this seems like an adjustment issue in the cables or it needs a bit of greaseing in the selector levers on the gearbox itself or at the shifter end.

Anonymous · November 3, 2005, 21:19

My 54 plate is exactly the same as this as was the demo car I borrowed before I signed on the line.

The clutch pedal needs to be right on the floor to get 1st even when stood still, the 5th to 3rd difficulty is a pain in the arse when driving "quickly"

Like proeliator2001, my previous car was a CTR where you could change gear with a single finger at 8200rpm with your foot barely on the clutch pedal. that gave lightning quick gear changes.

It's an annoyance, but you do get used to it.

Jap GT300 · November 4, 2005, 08:16

Sounds like your clutch needs bleeding to help adjust the biting point.

Anonymous · November 4, 2005, 14:43

I had this problem with a gen7 Celica, the bite point seemed to be straight from the floor making first or reverse gear selection from cold a pain in the bootox, reverse even more so because you could never engage it without grinding half the teeth off.

After three clutches a flywheel re-grind and a modified flywheel they seemed to have cured it, so the last weeks before I got rid it had a reasonable gear change.

I don't for one-minute think that it is what your problem is, I would agree with JapGT300 in that it probably needs bleeding and setting up

spynish · November 5, 2005, 19:23

Quote from: "Jap GT300"Sounds like your clutch needs bleeding to help adjust the biting point.

Hi Adam (or anyone that can help me),

I'm having the same problem with clutch (first and rear gear). How long takes bleeding the clutch?
I mean how much work (thinking of money)?

Anonymous · November 5, 2005, 21:00

Quote from: "spynish"
Quote from: "Jap GT300"Sounds like your clutch needs bleeding to help adjust the biting point.

Hi Adam (or anyone that can help me),

I'm having the same problem with clutch (first and rear gear). How long takes bleeding the clutch?
I mean how much work (thinking of money)?

Pressure bleeding the clutch system is reletively easy and straightforward, it can be done by any competant workshop at a reasonable price (maybe an hours labour and any fluid used)

Les

Jap GT300 · November 8, 2005, 07:52

and a little hint so that you don't destroy your gearbox. Select reverse with the engine off!

spynish · November 8, 2005, 15:51

Thanks to both! s:wink: :wink: s:wink:

I'll try to fix it this week!