Sticky Gear Changes

[chalboy]

Hi,

I've got an Avensis 1.8, 2001. From time to time I have trouble changing the gears, especially if trying to use the gears to slow down - in which case it is almost impossible to switch from say 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st. Even with the clutch right down. Sometimes it works more or less OK, but at other times it sticks at almost every gear change. I've had the gear box oil changed at the last service, so I'm not sure if that's the problem.

Any ideas?

[leem6]

i have been experiencing more or less the same problem with my '01 1.6 vvti for some time, its got 130k on the clock though, so i kinda guess some gear box wear is to be expected. what mileage is on your car?

[Asfalc]

Hi,

I've got an Avensis 1.8, 2001. From time to time I have trouble changing the gears, especially if trying to use the gears to slow down - in which case it is almost impossible to switch from say 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st. Even with the clutch right down. Sometimes it works more or less OK, but at other times it sticks at almost every gear change. I've had the gear box oil changed at the last service, so I'm not sure if that's the problem.

Any ideas?

Hi there...

It might be gear linkages ... best thing to do- pop into local toyota investigation should be FOC if it's road test only or get some local mechanic to look at it!!

[tubaman]

What about your clutch ? Are you on your original clutch ? (I am with a 2002 VVti)

[DairyleaMonster]

Hi,

I've got an Avensis 1.8, 2001. From time to time I have trouble changing the gears, especially if trying to use the gears to slow down - in which case it is almost impossible to switch from say 3rd to 2nd or 2nd to 1st. Even with the clutch right down. Sometimes it works more or less OK, but at other times it sticks at almost every gear change. I've had the gear box oil changed at the last service, so I'm not sure if that's the problem.

Any ideas?

I get something similar with mine - I have an 03 Avensis 1.8 T3-S with about 88k on the clock

Mine sticks in the lower gears, and mainly switching up from 1st to 2nd, and sometimes on 2nd to 3rd. Not very often, but occassionally on downshift

My gears were fine until late Aug 2007 when I had a short engine change due to excessive oil consumption - over 3ltrs in about 7 months!!! To give Toyota credit though, they changed it for free even though my car was out of warranty

Shortly after getting the car back, the gears started to stick - so back to the garage I went. Had a back-an-forth with the guys there of "well, short engine change shouldn't affect the gears"... "yeah, I know, but it was fine before yuo touched it"... "yeah but a short engine change shoudn't affect the gears"... "yeah I know but it was fine..." etc etc for a while. I ended up taking out extra warranty so they could look at the problem (they quoted just under a grand for labour if the gears needed fixing!!! )

So I've got the car back after they looked at it, and couldn't find anything wrong - just loobed up the gear cables/selectors etc and said to come back if there were any more problems

Any ideas of what else I can try, or ideas to pass onto the dealership?

Cheers!

Baz

[cmia]

sticky gear changes are intresting.

Toyota box's all seem to suffer from this.

- a falulty clutch/ weak hydralic system / slack cable could make gear changes notchy, or sticky.

things that could be faulty

1- pressureplate, clutch plate /realase bearing

2- hydralics low on fluid/ air in them

3- clutch slack / drag.

4- gear linkiages

5- gearbox / rear engine mounts.

Things to try...

With car off, engine and gearbox off,

select gears, as you would do normally, (as if you are driving)

Does it stick... Yes or No..

If you can select all gears, then the gearbox is fine.

Now drive around alittle ..

once warm.. change gear, if you feel like it is going stick

take out of gear, and double clutch, ie press the cluth twice before you change gear.

does it help?

@dairyleamonster, when they replaced your engine, did they provide you with a new flywheel, and clutch kit?

or used a new flywheel and your old clutch?

do the above, and post with results (all of you)

[DairyleaMonster]

Yeah cmia - notchy is possibly a better word of describing it

But in the past when it has stuck, I've had to double clutch to be able to change gear

As for when they replaced my engine, as far as I know it was just a short engine change - so I think thats all new block, rods, crank and pistons (but not being a mechanic, could be wrong on that) Possibly a flywheel change (will find out though, if it helps), and definitely not a clutch kit as I had to take out the warranty for them to even look at it (without extortionate bills!)

Will try out the things you mentioned and report back

Baz

[DairyleaMonster]

Ok sorry it's taken me so long to do this - its hard to remember to do it in the morning before you start the car!!

Anyway... engine cold and off, gears seem fine and easy to select

Things stick once the car is moving - doesn't seem to be any correlation between speed, how warm the car/engine/gearbox is (I'm only going on how long I've been driving for, nothing more technical than that) and seems to be intermittent

Does that help any with a diagnosis?

Baz