1st gear not engaging over 8km/h, gearbox Options

[phelps]

hey guys

ive only had my zr for a month and have found unless you are driving under 10km/h the car wont shift into 1st gear.

there is no unusual noises it just wont go in...

is the car made to do this or is it a problem?????

cheers phelps

[stetsonaw]

i'm understanding you're trying to downshift into first? not what you want to do. first gear is for when you are pretty much at a dead stop. it's made to not go into first gear over say 8~10 cuz it could do some damage to the engine, along with your drivetrain with as much as the engine would have to "brake".

[Bitter]

call me very crazy, but first gear should be accessible from pretty much 0-30mph (or whatever redline is). the only vehicle i could think of that would have such a short 1st gear would be a semi truck perhaps.

[stetsonaw]

i'm just talking as far as downshifting goes... starting out i think i've went up to 20km/h, dunno where redline is at though for my top speed in first, stupid clutch is shot.

[SeverX13]

its ment to do that. its a safety feature. no worries.

[azian_advanced]

hey guys

ive only had my zr for a month and have found unless you are driving under 10km/h the car wont shift into 1st gear.

is the car made to do this or is it a problem?????

mine is the same way.. i believe it's normal when you're trying to downshift.

[blu94gt]

I've never driven any car that would go into first at a speed above like 5 mph. It's when you have trouble getting into first while stopped that you have a problem.

[Kwanza26]

To to second then first...

[SeverX13]

dont worry about it. its supposed to be like that. its normal. youll be fine.

[Ryouxrs]

agreed, it is a safety feature, most standard transmissions with syncros are this wa. but if u really want to get in, and dnt care if u hurt the engine or tranny just double clutch from second to first.

[99Celica]

I have this same problem and I dont' believe it's normal. I'm a valet driver and my car is the only car that won't go into first above 5-10 MPH. I've even driven other celicas that are able to do it. I may be mistaken but I believe this problem began shortly after I installed a new clutch. My clutch also engages just above the floor, my mechanic tried adjusting the pedal up but he said it's maxed out. Anyone know what my problem may be? The clutch has been bled more than several times.

This post has been edited by 99Celica: Apr 2, 2009 - 6:03 PM

[Ryouxrs]

it is a safty feature built into the trans... my 06 xrs's do the same thing at about 15mph u can do it, but u have to force the hell out of it.

[cheeco]

try rev matching and shifting into first, should go in pretty easy

[GriffGirl]

My car won't go down to first from 2nd either unless I rev match it; I had a Pathfinder that was the same way. I think it's pretty normal. Either way if your car is working properly otherwise, I really wouldn't worry about it. Why would you want to downshift to 1st above 5mph anyway?

[99Celica]

I actually have been revmatching to get in gear lately, are there any harmful effects from using this method?

I have tested out almost every stickshift car i've driven recently at work and they dont' have this problem, or maybe just not to the extent my car does. Either way both my friend and my mechanic say it's not normal and they've both driven my car.

My transmission has also been really rough ever since my clutch installment, though I think the fluid is to blame(valvoline synthetic). Before the install my car shifted like butter and now it feels like the gaps shrank and it makes loud noises when I go into gear, almost like i'm missing gears except I still made it into gear.

[xrav22]

Mine won't go into first until I stop. It is better to just use the breaks than the tranny to stop IMO.

I actually have been revmatching to get in gear lately, are there any harmful effects from using this method?

I have tested out almost every stickshift car i've driven recently at work and they dont' have this problem, or maybe just not to the extent my car does. Either way both my friend and my mechanic say it's not normal and they've both driven my car.

My transmission has also been really rough ever since my clutch installment, though I think the fluid is to blame(valvoline synthetic). Before the install my car shifted like butter and now it feels like the gaps shrank and it makes loud noises when I go into gear, almost like i'm missing gears except I still made it into gear.

[phelps]

thanks for the replies
jus wasnt sure, im used to old commies and bush bashers that slip in 1st at higher speeds lol

cheers phelps

[azian_advanced]

my old 4th gen celica would easily downshift to 1st at pretty much any speed, but it's not until the 5th gens where you can't downshift to 1st while driving over a certain speed limit.. i'm not sure if other manufacturers follow this same trend but like people are saying, it's a safety feature. i've heard of this one guy with an RSX Type-S who likes to drive aggressively and was driving really fast on 5th gear (don't know what speed exactly but he was near the redline) until he wanted to downshift to 4th but hit 2nd instead and messed up his tranny. besides shifting into 1st, you can get a decent amount of engine braking (<-- yeah brake, not break) from 2nd until you slow down to a speed that's safe to shift into first. to be honest i'm actually quite impressed Toyota would have this feature in the first place, while other manufacturers don't.

[Ryouxrs]

it saves money, and tranny's

[cheeco]

I actually have been revmatching to get in gear lately, are there any harmful effects from using this method?

I have tested out almost every stickshift car i've driven recently at work and they dont' have this problem, or maybe just not to the extent my car does. Either way both my friend and my mechanic say it's not normal and they've both driven my car.

My transmission has also been really rough ever since my clutch installment, though I think the fluid is to blame(valvoline synthetic). Before the install my car shifted like butter and now it feels like the gaps shrank and it makes loud noises when I go into gear, almost like i'm missing gears except I still made it into gear.

Rev matching puts less strain on the tranny, thats why its easier to downshift with it.

[Rymaster]

I have this same problem and I dont' believe it's normal. I'm a valet driver and my car is the only car that won't go into first above 5-10 MPH. I've even driven other celicas that are able to do it. I may be mistaken but I believe this problem began shortly after I installed a new clutch. My clutch also engages just above the floor, my mechanic tried adjusting the pedal up but he said it's maxed out. Anyone know what my problem may be? The clutch has been bled more than several times.

Same thing happened to me after I installed my new clutch, I use to be able to downshift going about 10-15mph, and now I have to pretty much me at a dead stop to shift back into first.

[phelps]

hey

does anyone have temperally strugle when shifting to 4th gear and shifting down into 4th gear?

it feels and sounds like it clicks into place and somtimes doeasnt go straight in.. (theres no crunching goin on..)
i was thinkin its the linkage, or a shifting guide of some sort...

Thx

[Followtheornghat]

phelps... sounds like you got a synchro going out thats going to your fourth gear.

and to the rest trying to downshift into 1st gear. First gear in this transmission is not synchronized so it will not go in unforced or unless your doubleclutch/ or are perfect on your revmatching will it go in. it is a saftey precaution so that you dont through your tranny out onto the street, or put your rods through your engine from bouncing. The gear ratio's in the 6th gen celica are really short... i believe something like 4.27.

another tidbit of information:
Synchronized gears (2-5th) in our cars help match the transmission speed and engine speed to the gear you are using, thus making it so you dont have to rev match.
Un-synchronized gears, do not have this and therefore do not help match the speed of the engine and transmission gears to each other.

[delusionz]

I'll just add that my GT4 is the stubbornest out of all the manual celicas I've ever owned or driven to downshift into 1st, or sometimes even shift to first from a standstill, so I tend to put it back into neutral, let my foot off the clutch, repress the clutch and try again, usually works the 2nd time.

There are situations where coming to a rolling stop and then realising you need to make a move to clear traffic you get stuck between 2 and 1 and you really need 1 because 2 wont get you out in time (road speed & revs too low) then usually if you dont have time to hit neutral and repress your clutch you should be able to shift 2 and then straight up to 1 in a single motion.

As for rev matching, as a rule of thumb I do it for every downshift except under emergency braking.