Sticky First Gear

[advocate]

Has anyone else noticed that if they drive the manual LB really hard in first gear then try and mash the clutch and then yank the stick out to shift into second that the gears will sometimes cling a little bit?

It feels like trying to shift into a gear without the clutch fully engaged because there's a bit of grinding. Not a whole lot but it's definitely noticeable.

Being as I know next to nothing about cars I was just wondering what you would consider changing to make quick shifting smoother at really high RPMs to keep the gears from partially grinding like that when going from 1st to 2nd.

[advocate]

learn to drive stick properly

Wow. That was incredibly insightful and helpful. Thank you.

I'm going fast in 1st. I put the clutch to the floor. I try to pull the stick out of 1st gear and the gears catch a little bit.

If any part of this process is me not driving stick properly then feel free to let me know.

[advocate]

make sure you don't let off the gas too abruptly that way the revs wont drop that fast.

So if I'm trying to drive my car fast I'm just supposed to slam the gas and get up to 25 in first and then slowly let the gas off and just sit there while I drop back down to 18 before going into second? That completely defeats the purpose of driving the car up to each gear's rev limit before shifting, which, i'm pretty sure, is how you drive a car as fast as possible in the first place. Is it not?

[advocate]

no....

you suppose to feel the car, you accelerate up to the point where you cant feel the car pulling anymore and then shift. as soon as you feel you are maxing out but not bouncing off the limiter start clutching, release gas make the shift and reapply gas.

That's exactly what I'm doing. But what I'm trying to say is that sometimes 1st gear just doesn't want to let go sometimes. If you insist that this is a driver problem and not something that could be fixed with something like a better clutch then I will accept your opinion on the matter.

However, it would be nice to see what other people think the problem might be.

[silver_echo]

how many miles on the car? when does this happen? car hot? cold? beginning of when you try? later on?

[advocate]

how many miles on the car? when does this happen? car hot? cold? beginning of when you try? later on?

27,000. It happens after very hard acceleration in 1st when shifting to 2nd. It doesn't happen in any other gear. Car is relatively hot from outside temp but not operation. After it happens I usually don't try to push 1st again. It's happened 2 or 3 times now total over a year or so. I've always assumed that the car just couldn't handle it with stock equipment.

[advocate]

are you sure you're not pulling it to the side (i.e diagonally) a bit. i would suggest you practice a bit more without riding the clutch (not saying you are but avoid it)

I never ride the clutch. Pulling it diagonally might be part of it. I don't remember pulling it diagonally and I'm certainly not trying to.

[silver_echo]

27,000. It happens after very hard acceleration in 1st when shifting to 2nd. It doesn't happen in any other gear. Car is relatively hot from outside temp but not operation. After it happens I usually don't try to push 1st again. It's happened 2 or 3 times now total over a year or so. I've always assumed that the car just couldn't handle it with stock equipment.

couple things to try... replace the trans fluid, then check and make sure that your clutch line is not flexing out... speaking of which, hey garm, is there a braided clutch line available?

[ztlonewolf]

I never ride the clutch. Pulling it diagonally might be part of it. I don't remember pulling it diagonally and I'm certainly not trying to.

When you shift from first to second,pull the shifter back towards you,also,no need to push clutch all the way to the floor,push it just enough to disengage the clutch,then shift.

[lilredrocket]

I buzzed 2nd gear when I first got my car. I have owned 5 cars with MT's and never had this problem before. I'm 6'1" and heavier set and I have to put the seat all the way back to fit comfortably in the Yaris. Sitting that far back made me think I wasn't pushing the clutch in all the way so I moved my seat up on notch and have never buzzed 2nd gear again.

[IllusionX]

When you shift from first to second,pull the shifter back towards you,also,no need to push clutch all the way to the floor,push it just enough to disengage the clutch,then shift.

just push it to the floor. safer that way.

[ztlonewolf]

just push it to the floor. safer that way.

why is it safer that way?

[advocate]

why is it safer that way?

To make sure the clutch is as fully engaged as possible I would assume.

It's funny I'm 6'1 as well but sit close as well so that I can mash the clutch easily.

[ryota]

maybe it could be a problem with running 1st gear to the rev limiter. i'm no mechanic by far but it seems like when you shift a little earlier it's significantly easier to pull it into 2nd. try taking it to like 22mph instead and sifting there... also your car might not want to kill you as much when you're done driving it like that

[scape]

i hate first gear in this car, haha. it's tricky some times, especially when downshifting, it just won't go to first sometimes, and I'm stuck rolling at like 10 mph, end up going to 2nd and riding the clutch to get back up to speed. but that's not a very common circumstance.
starting in first is ok, but it's geared improperly I think, way too low-- just my opinion tho(on hilly terrain i bet this really helps), and makes second gear more of a patience thing sometimes. it really depends on how your driving and shifting-- maybe try different timing and clutching(if that's a word haha).
every once in a while i scratch on going to third gear, go figure.
IMO this car could use a slight regearing and definitely a 6th topend, but hey this is an eco box from start to finish ;d

[Tamago]

you think the yaris gears are too short?

[advocate]

maybe it could be a problem with running 1st gear to the rev limiter. i'm no mechanic by far but it seems like when you shift a little earlier it's significantly easier to pull it into 2nd. try taking it to like 22mph instead and sifting there... also your car might not want to kill you as much when you're done driving it like that

Yeah I mean it's obvious the Yaris is not a performance machine... at least not stock :laugh:

I originally posted here to see what one would replace in the car in order to facilitate shifting under extreme circumstances

[Tamago]

the transmission.

[PHXDEMON]

The friction point on the clutch is really far in. You have to slam it into the floor. It sounds like you aren't pushing the clutch in far enough. I doubt your synchros are going out already with that low of mileage.

[PHXDEMON]

i hate first gear in this car, haha. it's tricky some times, especially when downshifting, it just won't go to first sometimes, and I'm stuck rolling at like 10 mph, end up going to 2nd and riding the clutch to get back up to speed. but that's not a very common circumstance.
starting in first is ok, but it's geared improperly I think, way too low-- just my opinion tho(on hilly terrain i bet this really helps), and makes second gear more of a patience thing sometimes. it really depends on how your driving and shifting-- maybe try different timing and clutching(if that's a word haha).
every once in a while i scratch on going to third gear, go figure.
IMO this car could use a slight regearing and definitely a 6th topend, but hey this is an eco box from start to finish ;d

Yeah I hate that as well :cry:

[jonismyname]

another fellow that was commenting on 1/4 mile times suggested the motor torquing in the engine bay during 1-->2 shifts was changing the shift linkage angles and having a detrimental effect on his shifting. maybe the first suggestion of letting off the throttle a bit smoother would be in your favor, ideally you'd want the motor's RPM to be hanging right around the target rpm after the clutch is engaged in 2nd gear... not climbing, or dropping... i don't know a ton on the subject either, but that's my general experience with manual transmissions, on my bike, my yaris, and my friends car that badly needs a transmission...

[Tamago]

another fellow that was commenting on 1/4 mile times suggested the motor torquing in the engine bay during 1-->2 shifts was changing the shift linkage angles .

it's a cable. it isn't affected by minute changed in position. it's not solid linkage like some hondas.

[Parmas]

Has anyone else noticed that if they drive the manual LB really hard in first gear then try and mash the clutch and then yank the stick out to shift into second that the gears will sometimes cling a little bit?

It feels like trying to shift into a gear without the clutch fully engaged because there's a bit of grinding. Not a whole lot but it's definitely noticeable.

Being as I know next to nothing about cars I was just wondering what you would consider changing to make quick shifting smoother at really high RPMs to keep the gears from partially grinding like that when going from 1st to 2nd.

Seeing this I have to comment that when I used to drive hard the yaris (when it was stock) I noticed this aswell. The first gear will be like stuck there and needs more force to shift the gear to 2nd. This was noticed mainly after 4500rpm only at 1st gear.

With the new engine and corrolla trans the problem was never encountered so far!

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Hmm I've never noticed this in mine, and I've launched it pretty hard quite a few times... When I get it out of the shop I'll have to pay close attention to see if it's doing that, and could cause it to do that if it's not...

[AlexNet0]

Hmm I've never noticed this in mine, and I've launched it pretty hard quite a few times... When I get it out of the shop I'll have to pay close attention to see if it's doing that, and could cause it to do that if it's not...

--\treadjack

I thought they totalled your car?

--\endthreadjack



and to the OP: Its not so much a problem as getting completely comfortable shifting that way, dont yank it out of gear, pull firmly untill it comes out. I had this "problem" for a while, but now I have no issues running 1st hard and shifting quickly into second once I "relearned" my shifting.

[JBIZZ]

I had the same problem. I switched to Redline MT-90 and can now shift @ 30 mph from 1st to 2nd all day long w/out any grinding, as well as, 2nd and 3rd gears near redline.

[ChinoCharles]

I have this problem running full synthetic tranny fluid for the last 30K miles. Thats life. Its probably the cocktail of short shifters I've run in the past. No way to just replace the synchros in a transmission? Excuse my noobishness. If you were going to replace a Yaris tranny what is the best option? C60? Wonder if I have the power to back up/warrant a 6 speed. I don't see why not.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

I thought they totalled your car?


nope, did over $6,200 damage to it, but the insurance is paying for it. :iono:

[BluYrs]

Get polyurethane (or some other, stiffer) engine mount pads.

It could just be that the engine tilts too much when revving hard and the gear linkage will sound weird due the the extreme angle of the engine.