So, I have a manual 2008 Toyota Camry that has around 91k on it. For the lat 2 weeks, occasinally, I am having a hard time shifting from first to second gear. So, what happens is that I can put the car in first gear no problem, but then when I put my foot on the gas and accelarate to get going, and then push on the clutch to change gears in to second, it doesn't let me. It won't let go of the shifter until the car slows down quite a bit, and then it lets off. IT seems as if the clutch is not able to spin the engine down fast enough to change gears.
IT only does it going from first to second gear and only sparingly, but regular enough that I think something is going on.

Any idea what the problem is?

 

a few questions first

looks like this 2008 model camry has a hydraulic clutch system

any grinding or crunching ...a slipping clutch ?

any throw out bearing noise

could it be a leaking rear main engine seal and oil has soaked the clutch

what is the pedal doing ?
staying down no recovery --- have to pump it--- or a normal pedal


hydraulic
check master and slave for fluid leaks and if the slave is moving the clutch fork

if you think is is the shift stick itself
look at the cable adjustments and bushes
even engine mounts

gearbox
check the gearbox oil level and colour

 

Thanks for your reply. The clutch feels fine. No pumping necessary, it doesn't stay down and its stifness is the same as always. I don't hear any grinding noise. The only thing I hear is that engine looks like it has to spin down before I can shift.
The problem is getting out of 1st gear. Once it gets out of first gear, it will go to 2nd, 3rd and other gears fine. Could it still be a problem with the shift stick?

I was thinking if I had a hard time putting it in to 2nd, maybe it was a syncro, but since it goes in to all the gears (including 1st gear fine), I am not sure.

 

Does the RPM drop to idle before you shift or lag?

 

not a clutch or gearbox problem....doesnt sound like a stick problem either


as toyomoho suggests

the higher revs hang on too long ... should drop between shifts

my guess is an idle control valve fault or sticking throttle body

 

Interesting you say that @dirty hands.
The problem seems to happen when I give it gas to get going in first gear. If say I am on a downhill and don't need to give gas to get going, I can change gears from 1st-2nd no problem, but if I have to give gas to get going in first gear (say on an uphill), that is when the 1st gear gets stuck until the rpm slows down to almost idle before I can change gears!!!

 

When shifting gears. The higher the engine RPM the harder it will be to move disengage the gear shifter.

The trans may also have a larger gear ratio between 1st and 2nd then the other gears which can contribute to shifting issue you are experiencing.

Plus for emissions issues, the engine computer is may be slowing the idle drop once the peddle is released. The throttle is controlled by an electric motor via computer, not a cable linked directly to the peddle.

 

electronic pedals ...why oh why did they design them


recall information

 

 

Dirty Hands,
Are you telling me my problems could be related to these recalled parts?