So my manual tc has about 66k miles on it. When I'm in gear the stick shift itself feels like its loose, like its wiggling in the gear, is there anything I can do to fix this just annoys me and feels a little sloppy.

 

Flush the trans fluid and switch to Redline MT-90. Should make it feel better.

 

sounds like a personal problem you got there..

 

^ damn I knew that would be coming!! hahaha

 

It could be bushings, but I wouldn't think at 66k it would be. Did you ever service your transmission? A fluid change is always good, so it couldn't hurt. I don't know how much that will help though.
You are not running a short throw are you?

 

nope no short throw, have yet to service trans I'm certainly due

 

replace all your bushings with metal ones

 

^anyone have a diy for bushing replacement?

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=218284

There is one. There are more in the Tech section. Hope this helps.

 

Or the delrin ones that doc sells. The rubber bushings may be wearing on you. However, I think some stock tC's had an issue where the retainer cap on top of the shift pivot came loose. I know that mine is on tighter than ... well I wont go there... but you get the point. However, apparently some had issues that prompted them to add retainer clips to hold it down.

If you pull the lower console piece out you can see the top of the shift mechanism to see if it looks loose.

 

^ I have an '05 w/ 80K and mine has the same, don't think a trans service is going to fix it, pretty sure it's mechanical w/ the shifter itself. I have a TWM stage 2 and thinking of finding a washer or something that will tighten it up because the cap the holds down shifter ball in place is loose but no way to eliminate that play. Any have pics of a newer shifter w/ those retainer clips?

 

ummmm i have an 08 with 17,000 miles and my shifter does the same thing.... And i dont think its time to change the tranny fluid is it?

 

No, A fluid change probably won't help. When I did a fluid change on my old car, it shifted between gears more smoothly, felt smoother, and the syncros worked better.

 

I have heard some complain of the pivot ball not fitting correctly on the TWMs, so for the person with that.. your issue could be there.

I dont have a pic with the clips, but I know doc posted on on here somewere. He may even have a pic of one on his site at doctorisotope.com

 

I PM'd him about the clips, suggestions.

 

thanks all for your help and suggestions so far!

 

Doc I gave me a suggestion, going to try it today I'll let you know if it works.

 

please do!

 

Thanks for Doc I's suggestion, it actually eliminated a lot of the slop that the earlier production shifters have. Definitely not factory quality type thing but surprisingly effective. Take a stainless steel #8 screw, I went for a 1 1/2'' Phillips head because I hate flat head screws).

Remove shifter boot and locate 4 square holes in the top of the cap that holds down the shifter. Drive the screw straight down until it goes into the base, make sure sifter still moves easily. Be careful not to over tighten so you mess up the threads, it's just plastic. I added some extra grease before I tightened it so it would work itself in and prevent binding.

Before:

After:


It feels much better, doesn't have that slop and play in the shifter that it had previously. My early '05 had play even when it was in gear and worse in neutral. Took 30 seconds to do, well worth it.

Thanks Doc I!!

 

Well that is makes sense and cheaper than a fluid change. Glad to hear you got is solved.