Transmission pops out of gear
Five speed transmissions on Toyota pick up trucks from the early 1980’s all the way to current production share a common part. The shifter grommet is a two inch rubber cup that the ball of the shift lever rotates in. It is designed a bit like a hip joint where the shifter can rotate freely from front to back and from side to side. A wonderful design until the rubber gets old from wear and heat and falls apart in little rubber chunks.
Our owners come in and complain about a hard to shift problem or in many cases they tell us that the truck will randomly just come out of gear with no help from the driver. Many people hesitate to bring the vehicle in fearing that they will need an expensive transmission overhaul. It is a wonderful surprise for them when we can fix it with a relatively inexpensive little rubber donut. Having an experienced mechanic help you can many times save you money.
