Questions and Answers

Toyota Celica Intermittent Hard Shift Q. Mr Ciulla, I'm having a very unusual intermittent problem with my Celica. For some unknown reason the gear shifter will become hard to shift. This problem just started happening within the last 90 days. What happens is that every 2 to 4 days as I'm driving the gear shifter becomes harder and harder to move out of the gear it's in or from neutral into the next gear.

It's like it gets stuck, usually in 1st or 2nd and/or reverse. At first I suspected the clutch. The clutch, the clutch master and slave cylinders were replaced 5 years ago. It usually happens after the engine is at operating temperature. When it happens you feel the shifter getting increasingly harder to shift out of one gear and into the next. Also, there is no gear grinding sounds except if I try to shift into reverse. If I stop and turn off the engine and wait 20 to 60 minutes it will then shift okay until it happens again, maybe 2 days or up to 4 days later. It seems to me that 1st, 2nd and reverse are the worst.

I took it to a shop that just works on Hondas and Toyotas and asked them to check the clutch. They adjusted the pedal play, and the slave cylinder shaft, flushed the hydraulic system and checked for leaks. Also drained and filled the transmission with 75-90 API GL5 oil. They said the clutch looks in good condition. While there I had the rack assembly and the rear engine mount replaced (leaking lots of power steering fluid). Before this the last major service was when the timing belt was replaced last January. Mechanic said he was unable to duplicate the transmission shift problem and may or may not have fixed it.

Three days later it happened again. Since I thought the clutch may be the cause I tried double pumping, but that made no difference. I experimented to see if the clutch was working by coming to a complete stop with the car in 2nd gear while holding the clutch pedal to the floor. Engine did not stall or stumble, just idled normally. I could start from a stop in 2nd, but I had to slip the clutch so the car would not stall.

Again after letting the car set for an hour the shifter-transmission worked normally again. I thought it may be heat related, but why not every day then? I live and drive in Arizona so the temperature gauge is something I always keep an eye on, but the engine temperature gauge shows normal and the problem is not an every day occurrence. Any ideas? Please don't say the transmission is done for.

• 1993 Toyota Celica ST
• 1.6 4A-FE with 5 speed C-52 manual transmission
• EFI, A/C,
• 165,000 miles

Thanks in advance,
Steve

A. Okay Steve, I won't tell you the transmission is done for. There, does that make you feel better?

Before I condemn the transmission, I would have to look at the shift cable. It is possible the cable is kinked or binding in its sheath.

My feeling is if the problem is inside the transmission, it would be a constant thing, not just once in a while. Worn synchronizer rings would cause a grinding when shifting which you say is not happening. So I'm going to go with the shift cable, but if it is good then I'll have to say that which you do not want me to say.