Fussy cold gearbox

astrae · Post by **astrae** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 1:41 pm

Hi Guys.

I've got a Ae111 levin bzg with a 5 speed manual.

In winter the gearbox can be shocking at getting into gear when cold.

When the car has sat over night (in garage, worse if outside) or hasn't been used for a day or two, it can be extremely hard at getting into 1st gear after reversing out of the garage. 1st - 4th can all be hard. Sometimes it will slot into 4th then go into 1st more easily. After getting it in its not to bad.

Had the clutch, pressure plate and gearbox oil all done about a year and half ago as I was having similar problems (reverse crunching). The fingers on the pressure plate were very worn so it was like the clutch wasn't fully engaging.

Any ideas on what I should do now? Change the gearbox oil again?

AE86less · Post by **AE86less** » Mon Jun 30, 2008 7:01 pm

Before you go ripping into all that/buying stuff try checking the clutch fluid.

astrae · Post by **astrae** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 5:14 pm

Have checked the clutch fluid levels and all are ok. There isn't any way to adjust the clutch is there?

AE86less · Post by **AE86less** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 6:48 pm

Not sure aye, I've never tried pulling a clutch or anything apart before but I've had trouble shifting due to low fluid that I had tried fixing with new oil etc.

rollaholic · Post by **rollaholic** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 7:38 pm

you can usually adjust the clutch master rod length, at the top of the clutch pedal. not always though, couldnt say for your car.

if the clutch engages as soon as you begin to lift off the clutch, then its possible you are not getting complete dis-engagement, which is obviously going to make shifting difficult.

AE82 FXGT · Post by **AE82 FXGT** » Tue Jul 01, 2008 9:40 pm

How about replacing/bleeding the clutch fluid?
Unlikely, but not a bad deal for like $10 for decent brake fluid.

astrae · Post by **astrae** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:19 pm

This still hasn't improved.

One thing I have noticed though. Start the car, all gears ok, can get into everything reasonably easily.

Reverse out of the garage. Very hard to get any forward gears.

It seems like if I reverse when the engine is cold, all other gears are no good. Once I am in first and drive, I can shift to everything ok.

Going to get a mate of mine who works as a mechanic for Toyota to have a look next week.

RedMist · Post by **RedMist** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 5:43 pm

astrae wrote:This still hasn't improved.

One thing I have noticed though. Start the car, all gears ok, can get into everything reasonably easily.

Reverse out of the garage. Very hard to get any forward gears.

It seems like if I reverse when the engine is cold, all other gears are no good. Once I am in first and drive, I can shift to everything ok.

Going to get a mate of mine who works as a mechanic for Toyota to have a look next week.

I'm not much of a gearbox expert. However if its a splash type lube system (which I suspect it is) it might be easier to shift while dry. IE once you start moving you splash a stick oil on the synchros which in turn may cause them to slightly bind. I'd be looking at a lighter weight oil before I cracked the gearbox. Especially as it shifts better warm.

79rolla · Post by **79rolla** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:06 pm

if you were having problems befour and changing oil fixed it perhaps give it a oil change again??
see how bad the oil is when it comes out??

and if you have problems after reversing out of the shed then just back it in :lol:

problem solved :wink:

astrae · Post by **astrae** » Mon Jul 14, 2008 6:33 pm

79rolla wrote:...

and if you have problems after reversing out of the shed then just back it in problem solved

lol i have actually thought about backing in whenever its left overnight.