HELP - '90 3.0 V6 5 speed won't shift

G

grumpyrestonian

New member
New to the forum, love the resource.
I've got a 1990 5 speed 3.0 that just refuses to get in gear from a dead stop. Standing on the clutch it'll go into third, which is ever so helpful. Just barely made it back from Home Depot yesterday, with a not very bemused wife.
Happy to provide further details.

Thanks,
Grump
 
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4runnertank said:
Welcome! Is the clutch properly bled? Does it shift fine when your just driving then?
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And to answer your question it'll shift from 2nd (assuming I can get into 2nd) to third with no issues, but all other shifts require some serious effort to the point I'm worried about the stress I'm putting on the shifter.
 
did it just start doing that?

likely mc and or slave cylinder is bad. change both.

check for a leak under the dash, at the pedal. or under the truck at the slave.
 
Could also be a leak in the line. I had this issue recently.

Also if you have a lot of dirt and old oil and crud in and around the engine bay I found that it is difficult to find and see the leak if there is one since the dirt absorbs it up. I cleaned up some of the crud and to get a better view of the leak.

After bleeding it twice the problem came back quick. So then I just drove it around the block over and over so I wouldn't be too far, until it stopped shifting. I coasted to the side and imediately checked for the leak. This time I saw the leak fresh.

If you follow the tube that comes out the master cylinder, it curves down and back up in the engine bay under the windshield, it is held there with a clip that is screwed into the body. Over time that clip must have rubbed and rubbed and trapped dirt and water causing the tube to rust and finally preforate and leak.
 
Check your clutch pedal bracket also
Check for movement at the slave/fork area while u have someone step on the clutch
 
grumpyrestonian said:
Thanks for the quick response. It's probably not bled. Any chance there's a how to around these parts?
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Bleeding the clutch is quite simple--just like bleeding brakes. Get a helper to work the pedal, and crack open the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder (that's the part on the bellhousing--master cylinder is on the firewall). If I were you, I'd bleed that thing over and over until you're getting nice, clear fluid (make sure to keep tabs on the reservoir as you progress, as you will need to top it off occasionally). Make sure you close the bleeder fully each round to keep from introducing air back in at the bottom.
 
Can't say enough about all the advice and quick responses. I'll report back when I try the bleed/leak check.
Bushing could be gone as well, TONS of play in the shifter.

-Grump
 
Try the shifter seats Azshtr suggested before you do anything else. They arrive from Marlin very fast. There is nothing in the FSM for 1st gens about them. I wonder how many people have paid for a rebuild when all they needed was a $20 solution?
 
Nervo19 said:
Try the shifter seats Azshtr suggested before you do anything else. They arrive from Marlin very fast. There is nothing in the FSM for 1st gens about them. I wonder how many people have paid for a rebuild when all they needed was a $20 solution?
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It's a simple instal. Just start removing the parts from the top around the shifter and work down to the transmission. When you get the last bolts off and can see into the transmission there is one last collar that holds the shifdter in. That collar took me a little head scratching to figure out. It is spring loaded. Press down and turn 1/4 turn to release.

Don't worry if your original rubber bushing is broken and parts fall into the transmission. They won't hurt anything. That advice came from an old school transmission guy who first told me to replace the bushing myself to save money rather than have the shop do it.
 
It's alright man, my clutch shifts fine going up into gears, has a small amount of play in the "neutral" zone shifting into the gear from neutral, mostly 1st,2nd, and 3rd gears, but if I try to downshift, it grinds hard in that zone between those gears and neutral. I think it's my synchros are finally messed up. I might try to bleed mine though too, just let me know how things go for you!
 
I have to throw mine in 1st a few times before i throw it in reverse.Otherwise GRRRIINNDDDDD. Still don't know why, but I don't mind the extra time to do it.
 
4runnertank said:
I have to throw mine in 1st a few times before i throw it in reverse.Otherwise GRRRIINNDDDDD. Still don't know why, but I don't mind the extra time to do it.
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I was told by the same old timer transmission shop guy (as in my above reply) that the Toyotas do not have a reverse synchro.
 
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