# Falling from Fifth

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** rav4, toyota\
**Created:** [August 27, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674 "2009-08-27T20:00:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CambridgeCar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5ac83/32.png) [@CambridgeCar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CambridgeCar)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 8:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/1 "2009-08-27T20:00:46Z")

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Hi,  
  
 I was recently driving on the highway in my Toyota RAV4 with standard transmission and my car fell out of fifth gear making a terrifying revving noise. Now, it will not ever stay in fifth. What’s wrong.  
  
 Thanks!

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/2 "2009-08-27T21:53:07Z")

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Perhaps the shifter linkage slipped.

What year, how many miles, has the clutch assembly been changed recently?

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**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 9:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/3 "2009-08-27T21:56:52Z")

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Classic Mitsubishi 5-speed failure mode…

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 10:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/4 "2009-08-27T22:06:21Z")

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And the fix when it’s a Mitsu is???

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**Author:** ![cigroller](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c68b51/32.png) [@cigroller](https://community.cartalk.com/u/cigroller)\
**Post date:** [August 27, 2009, 10:11pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/5 "2009-08-27T22:11:04Z")

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If you don’t find a problem with the shift linkage you may be looking at a worn/dead synchronizer. That’ internal so it generally means a rebuild. How many miles are on that transmission?

You can just drive in 4th until you figure it out. The rpms will be higher, but just keep it reasonable.

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**Author:** ![hd72mm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/9fc29f/32.png) [@hd72mm](https://community.cartalk.com/u/hd72mm)\
**Post date:** [August 28, 2009, 4:50am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/falling-from-fifth/35674/6 "2009-08-28T04:50:01Z")

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Rav4s have this trouble but it can be fixed without pulling transmission.  
Go to [www.rav4world.com](http://www.rav4world.com)  
Sign up is free and use search for 5th gear and you will find step by step with pics how to fix.