Avensis popping out of 4th gear

john.west

Hi folks,

As title says my 2001 1.6 VVTI Avensis is continuiously popping out of 4th gear. It might stay in gear for about 10 - 15 seconds and then jumps into neutral. I was thinking a gear linkage but could well be wrong. I'm wondering could anyone possibly provide me with the answer as to whats possibly wrong and estimated cost to fix at an independent garage

Also, I have a 1997 Carina for parts. Im wondering if I'm lucky enough that the parts are interchangeable could I get the necessary part out of it and change it myself...I am reasonably capable of basic car maintenance....have changed oil and filters, brake pads, shoes. discs, window regulators etc before with not too much hassle...

CJhaughey

Even if you are handy with basic maintenance changing internals in a gearbox is not that simple a job.
BUT lots of Carina E parts fit the Avensis and some of the internals are the same for the gearbox.

haulagebasher

A situation where a gearbox keeps slipping out of gear, i my experience, is almost unversally an internal problem and is down to worn sychroniser rings or dog clutches or else broken synchroniser springs. It is these prings that keep the synchoniser's dog clutch teeth pressed into the correstonding teech in the side of the gear wheel itself. If these springs are weak or broken, the synchro ring can simply fall out of the gear wheel-ie. falling out of gear.As well, if the dog clutch teeth on the synchro or gear wheel are very worn or broken, it will also fall out of gear. Would i be correct in saying that it falls out when the accelerator is pressed and the power put down?Repairing this kind of thing is certainly not a DIY job and even a lot of mechanics would not be doing it. Your gearbox would most likely need to be completely rebuilt and this is a specialist dicipline as there are many fine tolerances that must be measured and adjusted with shims etc and special tooling such as presses and pullers are needed.The cheapest way out for you is to get a second hand box from a scrappy. A more expensive but more reliable option is to go to a gearbox rebuild specialist and you could exchange your bad box for a reconditioned one which should have a guarantee of some sort. The most expensive option is to just buy a brand new box but your taking $$$$ for this.

john.west

CJhaughey wrote: »

Even if you are handy with basic maintenance changing internals in a gearbox is not that simple a job.
BUT lots of Carina E parts fit the Avensis and some of the internals are the same for the gearbox.

I wouldn't be inclined to go rip a gearbox apart CJhaughey. That would be way beyond my expertise. However, with the help of a friend who previously changed his gearbox and clutch I believe we should be able to change the entire gearbox.

Do you know if I would be as lucky that the Carina E gearbox would fit the Avensis VVTI (both 1.6 litre petrol, 5 spd manual boxes). Otherwise would you possibly be able to tell me how much I would expect a gearbox to set me back from a scappies. Many thanks in advance.

john.west

@ haulagbasher thanks for your response for which you went to some considerable lengths to explain. As I previously mentioned I won't attempt to rip a gearbox apart. I wouldn't be inclined to go down the route of buying a new box as I'm sure it would end up being away more expensive than the worth of the car. I would however look for one at a scrap yard if need be and attempt to change myself with a friend.

Out of curiosity would you by any chance be able to provide me with a ballpark figure of how much I could expect to spend on parts and labour at a gearbox specialist and leave my own done gearbox with them.

PS, It would seem that the car pops out of 4th gear regardless of whether I'm accelerating or not as far as I can make out.

CJhaughey

I think physically they will be very very close, as in they will probably be interchangeable.
I think 1st gear may be different and the speedo drive.
Worth a crack I would say.