Celica Forums General Discussion Engine and Performance transmission / clutch help

Hey guys, hopefully someone can help me out here.

I got a recall notice on my car regarding the brakes so i took it in to the dealer and had them look at my clutch also. Since i got the car 12,000 miles ago (year and a half ago) I've noticed that it has been kinda hard to get into gear and it grinds sometimes going into 5th without me forcing it.

The dealer said I needed a new clutch, however i think they are wrong. I've had a clutch go out on my MR2 and i know what it feels like. My Celica isnt slipping when its in gear and has no problem engaging.

So i took it to a transmission shop and they thought it might be the slave or master cylinder, however I dont have any leaks.

So today I took it to the third place that specializes in clutch repair and they test drove it and said that its my synchronizers and that i need to get the transmission overhauled. est cost is 1700-2300. Should i do it or does this seem a little ridiculous? Its really not that big of a problem driving it around since i got used to it. Will the problem get worse if i continue driving it?

anyone have a simular story? the GT has 60,000 miles and is a '00

i got the same problem but mine grinds on 4th gear, yes the problem will get worser as you drive, you would be able to feel the grind even more, soon or later your 6th or 4th will grind with it too.

Usually for a manual transmission reverse, 1st or 2nd goes first.
The syncro's are a problem for the "early" gears like second or third.
My fifth gear has been acting "funny" lately but I never had any grinding or shifting problems before with any gears (2000 also).

For the qoute on the transmission overhaul, I would get a whole new transmission. No need to overhaul it when you can get new if that's the case for the same money. Also throw in a new clutch and flywheel while you're at it. A LSD would be great if the money persists.

I don't know where you bought the car from, but if it was from a lot/dealership they should cover the expenses due to the warranty they apply to used cars.

There is an extended warranty I hope?

you can always drive your car like they did before they had syncros.. clutch down shift into neutral lift clutch rev to proper speed engine speed and gear ratio match to speed your going put clutch back in and shift into gear. that takes longer though, but you syncros could be compeletely gone and you'd still be able to shift. it'll probably get worse, i'd replace the tranny when it gets really bad. or you could do the c2power tranny upgrade dunno if they replace the collars as well as the gears. It thought I read something about shifting differently after you do the upgrade like they use dog gears or something..

Sounds like synchros to me. My second gear was fucked up and I took it in hoping it was the clutch and it turned out to be my synchros. $1900 later I had new second gear synchros, a new second gear, a new reverse gear, and they install my RPS clutch for me. Hopefully it's just your clutch. Good luck.

My car would grind when I downshifted to 4th. It was the syncros. I spent a lot more than any of you guys posted.

i got an update for ya all-:D


I talked to toyota again and they said they will pay for an overhauled transmission!!! including the labor!

Apparently the transmission is covered under a 60k mi or 5 yr warranty however mine was sold in dec 1999 so it took a little bit of convincing under their "goodwill" program.

so since i got 2k$ in repairs for free, i think ill throw some Motegi rims on her to celebrate (yea im cheap)

Bad synchros. Get it fixed under warranty or if your not covered. YOu will pay outta your ass to get this fixed.

Haha good shit! I got mines overhauled as well for free with the labor under the toyota warranty! doesnt it feel great to get FREE shit from toyota and not pay a single cent

haha i remember the "goodwill" program. They put me on the goodwill program, but my car only had 14,000 miles when the tranny took a shit.