manual transmision problem - Toyota Yaris Forums

parce1992 · 02-16-2009, 12:21 AM

hi I have 4 door yaris. manual.
cool little thing
however, sometimes when i put it into reverse it makes a sound as if i did not have my clutch engaged but i do....
I really do not want to ruin my transmission and i have that warranty that covers it all.
So what do you guys think i should do? take it to the dealer?

UTVitz · 02-16-2009, 12:35 AM

I think I might know what you're talking about here since I drive the manual as well. It usually takes a moment of clutch engagement before you shift into reverse to make it seem smooth, though it is still a little notchy. Make sure the car is not moving at all when engaging reverse or you will get grinding-which is very hard on the gears. If you're getting grinding and the car is dead stopped and you engaged the clutch a moment before trying to shift into reverse, I'd have the dealer check it before too long to prevent damage.

GuySmily · 02-16-2009, 02:34 AM

Every Honda and Toyota I have never driven from my '86 pickup to my girlfriend's 07 Yaris has done this. Put the stick in a different gear before reverse (without letting go of the clutch). I usually use 4th or 5th since they don't see the abuse that 2nd and 3rd do.

I could've sworn I posted about this not too long ago.

SilverBack · 02-16-2009, 02:50 AM

I used to have this problem too. I had the bad habit of throwing it in reverse while it was still rolling forward at about 1/2 MPH. It used to make a loud grunt during the shift. What works now is making sure the car is completely stopped first, like UT suggests. Also putting in neutral for a second followed by pinning the clutch all the way down before hitting reverse makes for a flawless shift everytime

IllusionX · 02-16-2009, 08:12 AM

the square reverse gears don't help either.

i guess most of the tips are already suggested by others... Wait until complete stop, put it in gear before going into reverse.

trini_per4mance · 02-16-2009, 09:42 AM

As I have done a lot of driving with my Yaris, I have noticed the same thing. I usually engage the clutch and put it in 4th gear then reverse and it goes in smoothly. And also, make sure the car is not rolling.

jkuchta · 02-16-2009, 11:19 AM

Change your trans fluid to Redline MT-90.....everything will be much smoother, and the grinding will be pretty much gone.

IllusionX · 02-16-2009, 12:26 PM

^ jkuchta, you are complete lost in what we are talking about.

1stToyota · 02-16-2009, 12:51 PM

Mine was that way. Got a little worse when I went LubroMoly synthetic GL-5. Switched to GL-4 Amsoil and problem is about 99% gone.

jkuchta · 02-16-2009, 12:56 PM

Illusion...I think I'm with you.

The reverse gear is non-synchro'd and straight cut, which makes it a little difficult to engage. I had the same problem myself, especially when the trans was cool in the morning. That grinding sound is what happens when reverse is only partially engaged. Switching to the MT-90 pretty much made the problem go away.

You'd be amazed at what a switch to a good fluid will do for this transmission.

02-16-2009, 12:21 AM	#1
parce1992 View User's Garage Drives: yaris S hatchback 09 Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: NJ Posts: 9	manual transmision problem hi I have 4 door yaris. manual. cool little thing however, sometimes when i put it into reverse it makes a sound as if i did not have my clutch engaged but i do.... I really do not want to ruin my transmission and i have that warranty that covers it all. So what do you guys think i should do? take it to the dealer?

02-16-2009, 02:50 AM	#4
SilverBack Joey View User's Garage Drives: '14 Scion xD 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: El Monte, Ca Posts: 3,529	I used to have this problem too. I had the bad habit of throwing it in reverse while it was still rolling forward at about 1/2 MPH. It used to make a loud grunt during the shift. What works now is making sure the car is completely stopped first, like UT suggests. Also putting in neutral for a second followed by pinning the clutch all the way down before hitting reverse makes for a flawless shift everytime __________________ Formerly owned Met-Met. '07 Yaris LB 5-speed. A forum post should be like a skirt: Long enough to cover the subject but short enough to keep things interesting. "I don't have an anger problem. I have an idiot problem." -Hank Hill

02-16-2009, 09:42 AM	#6
trini_per4mance Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris S Sedan Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Hollywood, FL Posts: 162	As I have done a lot of driving with my Yaris, I have noticed the same thing. I usually engage the clutch and put it in 4th gear then reverse and it goes in smoothly. And also, make sure the car is not rolling. __________________ Yaris 500,000 miles in 6 years 9 months 3 weeks and 3 days and still going strong!!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnTlNLz9Iqc http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2010/...le_cars/5.html http://www.subcompactculture.com/200...-miles-on.html

02-16-2009, 12:51 PM	#9
1stToyota Drives: 2013 Chevy Spark 1LT 5-speed Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,185	Mine was that way. Got a little worse when I went LubroMoly synthetic GL-5. Switched to GL-4 Amsoil and problem is about 99% gone. __________________ 1997 Lincoln Town Car - *SOLD* 2008 Scion xD (w/ automatic) - SOLD 2008 Yaris HB - SOLD

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02-16-2009, 12:35 AM	#2
UTVitz Drives: Black Vitz Liftback Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Salt Lake City Posts: 238	I think I might know what you're talking about here since I drive the manual as well. It usually takes a moment of clutch engagement before you shift into reverse to make it seem smooth, though it is still a little notchy. Make sure the car is not moving at all when engaging reverse or you will get grinding-which is very hard on the gears. If you're getting grinding and the car is dead stopped and you engaged the clutch a moment before trying to shift into reverse, I'd have the dealer check it before too long to prevent damage.

02-16-2009, 02:34 AM	#3
GuySmily Drives: 2005 Toyota MR2 Join Date: May 2006 Location: Sacramento, CA, USA Posts: 158	Every Honda and Toyota I have never driven from my '86 pickup to my girlfriend's 07 Yaris has done this. Put the stick in a different gear before reverse (without letting go of the clutch). I usually use 4th or 5th since they don't see the abuse that 2nd and 3rd do. I could've sworn I posted about this not too long ago.

02-16-2009, 08:12 AM	#5
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	the square reverse gears don't help either. i guess most of the tips are already suggested by others... Wait until complete stop, put it in gear before going into reverse.

02-16-2009, 11:19 AM	#7
jkuchta View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris hatch (red) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 557	Change your trans fluid to Redline MT-90.....everything will be much smoother, and the grinding will be pretty much gone.

02-16-2009, 12:26 PM	#8
IllusionX It's the illusion you see View User's Garage Drives: 07 Yaris Sedan Aero Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Brossard, QC Posts: 3,888	^ jkuchta, you are complete lost in what we are talking about.

02-16-2009, 12:56 PM	#10
jkuchta View User's Garage Drives: 2007 Yaris hatch (red) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: L.A. Posts: 557	Illusion...I think I'm with you. The reverse gear is non-synchro'd and straight cut, which makes it a little difficult to engage. I had the same problem myself, especially when the trans was cool in the morning. That grinding sound is what happens when reverse is only partially engaged. Switching to the MT-90 pretty much made the problem go away. You'd be amazed at what a switch to a good fluid will do for this transmission.