3rd-4th gear grind...but only near redline
 

Tried searching...even Googled it. Found nothing.

So, one of the minor "issues" that I've already gotten over is that the transmission basically needs to be shifted perfectly in order to go in smoothly. What I mean is, a lot of cars are pretty forgiving...you push the clutch in, move the lever, release the clutch--no problem.

But with the FR-S, I feel like you really have to make sure the timing of the clutch and shift are perfect. When that's good, there's a beautiful mechanical shift as your reward...but if you do it wrong, you get a crunchy feeling as the car goes into gear.

During normal driving, my transmission is fine. I've gotten adjusted to the timing and I can drive it everywhere without a crunch. BUT! I've recently discovered it won't go into 4th gear correctly if I shift from 3rd at or near redline.

If I rev 3rd out to about 6500 RPM and then shift, I can usually (but not always) get a proper shift. But if I hold on till 7000 or later, it ALWAYS grinds. It's not always the same feeling either...sometimes it almost goes in right, and sometimes it's a nauseating crunch that reminds me of dealing with abused old Honda transmissions.

I know it's easy to blame the driver, but I assure you the problem is not with me. I can start from a roll and get nice clean shifts at redline from 1-2 and 2-3, but then I get the crunch from 3-4.

Any ideas or thoughts? I want to get some feedback to see if anyone else is experiencing this before I just take it in to the dealer.

This same exact thing happens to me. I have the Vtune and i can rev all the way to 7,800K. The higher you go in rpm, the harder the grinding sensation. To me, this is a bad design by Toyota. Let's get a recall. Soon our sycros teeth will be worn if this is to persist.

Hmmm, I have never experienced grinding at all even at 7400 rpm from 3rd to 4th, must've been a rookie who assembled your tranny.

Me neither, I would try to have it looked at.

I have never experienced grinding in 3rd to 4th, but then I don't often do redline in 3rd gear.

I have the same issue. It only happens during aggressive shifts from 3rd to 4th.

Let me help you guys here...There is a Toyota Bulletin on the issue currently and we have already done one of these at my dealership. Take it to your dealer. So you know whats to be expected...they will PROBABLY end up replacing your complete transmission. The issue is with the shifter which shakes and is causing damage to your transmission because of some bearings inside the shifter(i think thats what it said lol). This bulletin DOES apply to certain VIN numbers but you all sound like you apply. I'm not at work so I cant post the bulletin but you will be taken care of. You should be fine after.

I've got this problem as well. Since day one. I've learned to take the 3-4 nice and slow and it doesn't grind. Really sucks at the dragstrip tho, especially in the 1k' because the 3-4 is just before the line with stock power levels, cant run out 3rd w/o bouncing the limiter and to shift slowly means you coast across.

It's more prevalent on the FR-S's purchased closer to first release.

hmmm... wanna say I'm 934 :( lol (too lazy to walk to my car and look at the VIN)

can someone post the bulleting i get 3rd gear grinds at normal daily driving

there is a TSB for this???

Please post the tsb

I've grind it a couple times but I'm pretty sure its just me not have the clutch fully depressed and not a design issue. 3 -> 4 is a short shift so I think it just have to pay more attention and maybe be faster.

I'm relieved to hear that. My car was built 7/12 so I would assume it qualifies. I'll talk to my buddy who's a Toyota tech.

If you can post the TSB, please do so.

There is absolutely no reason to put up with or live with this on a brand new car. Take it in.

I posted the TSB with a new topic under the TSB/warranty section for ALL to see. Hope that helps.

I thought you said it was a new TSB regarding gear grinding? I see that you posted the rattly shifter TSB, which has been out for a while. My shifter has a tiny rattle, and my VIN is higher than what's specified in that TSB, so I don't think that one applies to me.

More info on this? I found your post on tsb, but it was about the shifter, not the transmission

The job we did where the tranmission was replaced was a result of that shifter issue. The grinding in 3rd and 4th was a result of the shifter which damaged the transmission. I personally dealt with this tech who did the job. I'll try and get more details from him Tuesday when we re-open. I would still try and have the dealer look at it although the VIN does not show your number. Either way your still are under warranty for at least 36k miles so let em look at it. Worth a try right? :)

Oh yea...he mentioned that it would probably be more noticeable around redline and obviously progress to lesser rpm's over time. Thats why I'm thinking the shifter issue may have something to do with that. Again I'll ask him about it and get more details tuesday.

Ok I spoke with the tech about this again today and he stated that this particular customer's vehicle would grind while shifting between 4th and 5th gear at RPM's above 6k from what he remebered.(job was 3 months ago now) He said it did not matter whether it was downshifting or upshifting but at speeds above 50mph and higher RPM it was evident. He was pretty busy so I didn't get to ask about synchros(just to go in depth) or any other technical stuff but he said the shifter caused the problem.

Hate to bring it topic back up but I now started to have 4th gear grind (going from 3rd to 4th gear). But its only at high RPM. I don't beat on my car, I do like to do a little sprint driving but not beat the hell out of it. Has anyone found out if this can be fixed by the dealer?

i have this problem and already took the car to toyota. i don't even beat on the car to get the 4th gear grind. it's in correlation to transmission speed, not engine speed. if i'm in 5th or 6th going 70 mph on the freeway and try to downshift to 4th, it grinds terribly and won't go into gear easily at all. i was told i have to wait till a special tech guy comes back into town to look at the problem, but was told i was getting a new transmission altogether

Alright, so I'm about 98% sure I have this issue too. In third gear, at or above 6500 rpm, I get a grind when shifting up to fourth without letting the revs fall considerably. This is not something that happens here and there but EVERY time these conditions are met.

In dubai, I have taken the car to 2 dealerships to have this issue looked at. Both took the car put for a test drive and both came back and told me that they see what I am talking about and that it is NORMAL! How could this possibly be normal?

I have the grinding issue but with with the 2nd-3rd shift.

RPMS don't matter, shifting slow or fast doesn't matter. I can feel the teeth grinding. I can feel something pushing back.

This doesn't happen on a downshift into 3rd.. Taking mine in tomorrow to have it test-driven.

Mine grinds into 4th as well at high RPMs. Hesitant to try to take it to Toyota due to the turbo.

Any word on the transmission?

they haven't called and i haven't had time to swing by the dealership. i should be going next week. i'll keep ya posted :thumbsup:

I have this issue as well. I took it to the dealer yesterday, so we'll see what happens. Grinding going into 4th at high rpm. How frustrating!

Purposely made sure I tried shifting a lot at high rpm going from 3rd to 4th on the way in to work this morning. The damn thing would grind EVERY time. I am beyond frustrated. I've had this car for a month and a half, and this is unacceptable. I don't know why anyone else isn't more upset, but I didn't buy this car to baby the 3-4 shift, especially at 2k miles on the odo.

Your other car is a DSM man, you should know all about transmission issues.

I know... that's the worst part. I was hoping to avoid issues like that with a brand new car!

Old thread I know, but I was curious if anyone tried upgrading to a thicker grade fluid and had this issue clear up at all.

Mine grinds from 3rd to 4th past 5K, little worse at 6K, everything else shifts like butter.

this seems to be a common problem. i had the trans replaced under warranty 2 times already before the 3rd one worked fine. now its comming back and yes the higher the rpm the worst the grind. dont worry, its not you. its this trans. i just dont feel like bringing my car back for another trans that will fail again 3months later. for now... i will live with the 3-4 grind.

Also not trying to revive an old thread but I have been having this issue for the past 5k miles or more. Car has 12k on the odo, I have the Perrin shifter bushing installed and noticed this crunch more after installing that. Could it be the synchros?

Also, will they give me crap for having the perrin bushing installed? I have the oem bushing might switch back to that.

I had this issue. I put it down to too much box slam at the track.

Lighter flywheelmade it pretty much go away, but was still there a little.

Then with whiteline shifter bushing it's completely gone.

Much happy

lots of these trannies have this problem. they screwed up on a lot of brz's

You can be upset all you want the problem is there's nothing that they can do to rectify this issue other than installing a new trans that will do the same thing eventually. I've said it numerous times, the synchro design is one of the worst I've ever seen and Aisin needs to revamp it and they need to warranty these pos boxes. I can't understand why they changed it from the s2k/rx8/j160 trannies they say this box is based off of.

The Frozen North

I have this as well, I even did it a second time to make sure it wasn't me messing up. I pressed the clutch in all the way then shifted 3 -> 4 but still there was a crunch