Hi!

Is there some way to make the shifter feel more direct? It feel really sloppy compared to my previous celica (1990). I noticed the shifter assembly in my 5th gen was made of metal and the one in the 6th gen is made of plastic...It seems like a downgrade to me !?
I noticed rubber washers where the assembly is mounted, I'll probably remove that but I dont think I'm going to get back the "mecanical clicking" feel I was used to and loved...

Also when I got in 2,4 or reverse engaged, it seems like I can still pull the shifter a good 1 inch further down, is that extra play normal???

I really feel like i'm handling a plastic stick

i have some play in the stifter too. I have some trouble putting the shift in 1st gear... Could this be the same for you?

for me is 1st and reverse.

one OT question.

Does your car have to be completely STOPPED before shifting to REVERSE?

Let's say, my car's parked on a drive way, I started the car, foot off brake, car started rolling backward, and then I tried to shift to REVERSE (cuz it's not rolling fast enough), but it never worked for me. It's always stuck. I have to literally stopped the car, and then shift to first.

i must stop newar completely when shifting to 1st ...not for reverse but sometimes it doesn't feel good so i try too stop the car also

I have been told that a couple of thins can affect shifting smoothly.
First and most ugly is the transmission. Try changing the fluid.
Motor mounts. If they are loose or just worn out they can cause problems.
Cable bushings. The stock ones are rubber so they can wear out. Try replaceing them with a set from here: http://www.speed-source.net/
I am also going to go through all of this with my St. Mine you have to sometimes force it into first. Other times it goes in without any force at all.

This post has been edited by bindertch: Apr 6, 2006 - 10:03 PM

FYI: The 5sfe/S54 transmission cables use 1 big and 1 small bushing on the transmission so if you decide to get bushings, make sure you get the right ones because the 3s onces are 2 small ones.

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Hello.
I have virtually no play in any gear. I consider the shifter one of the finest features of my car. Shifts are very positive. As you pull/ push the shifter you can feel the transition progress through each stage.
1: with the clutch depressed the shifter clicks out of the lower gear with a very defined detent.
2:as the shifter is making its way to the next gear selection you can feel the detent occur as the lever reaches the end of its range of travel simulateously as it gets into the higher gear.

By the way.
Every time I stop driving my Celica and I get back to drive my other car I roll my eyes and shake my head. My Civic is completly vague. You can't really enjoy the shifting. The whole Honda design irritates me to no end. There are no cables in my Civic. Instead they use shifter rods. What a engineering mistake! If I could put a Celica shifter in my Civic I would.

Yellow94GT

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You got that right! Exactly how my 5th gen felt!

I ordered teh bushings from http://www.speed-source.net/, hopefully than with new base bushing will revamp the old shifter

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not for me. i can be slowly rolling forward to park in front of my house and i can still shift into reverse and adjust my parking position.. you can be slowly moving in either direction to go shift in 1st or reverse.

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Hey, how did this go? I'm thinking of the same thing to mine...

me too...it sucks because my shifting is utterly hard and i sometimes have to force it in...i thinking about replacing the shifter box with the TRD short shifter...besides...my stick squeaks as i move from left to right in the Neutral position...anybody can help me with this...i tried lubricating the joints...but no luck...let me know how the replacement of the cables go....positve or neg results!!!

mine doesnt have that anymore.

that 1 inch of play, ended up costing me $800 aussie dollars, cos my shifter cables snapped, so i lost 2nd, 4th and reverse.....

but that wont be everyones case, it's a plastic shifter assembly, so direct stiffness can't really be expected

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one of the worst 30$ buck spent in my life, lol

so no better then? you still have the problem or have solved it some other way?

My shifter feels very defined. No sloppyness, very exact. It was like this with the stock shifter, but improved a bit with the TRD shifter. Precise and clean throws every time. Maybe change your transmission fluid?

If rolling backwards very slowly I can put it into reverse, but anything above a few MPH and it grinds.
If already in reverse I can put it in first while rolling backwards.
Can't put it in first from any other gear unless going real slow.. seems like a saftey precaution to me.

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Well The problem is the new bushig are solid brass and when you shift into 1st or 2nd, when you push the stick to the left the shifter lever at the tranny are moved "sideways", its hard to expain but its harder than before, and I havent feel any difference expect that

Well, I installed the brass ones yesterday. I have to say that it feels much better now. Much firmer, more defined. Its alot louder when shifting now - you can hear the gears go in with almost a clunk.

And its also harder to shift quickly. When shifting slowly it feels great, but when trying to throw it into a gear, it slips out nicely, but then almost catches on something before going in with a clunk? What would be causing that and how can I fix it?

My shifter has very little play in it at all, but I'm also in a ST. Not sure how the trannies differ between the models. I'll make the already noted suggestion of changing your transmission fluid.

As far as 1st and reverse, it's very difficult to shift into reverse if I'm rolling, and I get a nasty grind if I do. I've never tried shifting to 1st from a higher gear while rolling. I only use it if I'm stopped. The difficulty in 1st and reverse is probably caused by the fact that most transmissions aren't built with synchros in those gears.