Bought a 2011 Ranger a few months ago, I've noticed that the tranny does not shift as smoothly as it should. I am coming from a sports car, so am I just trying to shift too fast? I've heard all about the master slave cylinder issues, however I wouldn't expect to be seeing that issue this quickly (4300 km). Am I just being paranoid, shifting too fast, or should I bring it in for some warranty work? I also noticed the idler pulley was squealing during cold starts, not that it has anything to do with the tranny.

 

It won't shift as smooth as a sports car. Every car I drive seems like butter, I prefer a little feeling there.

 

Yeah, I don't expect it to shift anywhere near a sports car. I'm comparing it to a Jeep Wrangler I recently drove that shifted like butter. Sometimes it tends to shift smoother than others, I can't tell if it is user error or a picky tranny.

 

Temperature will play a part in how the truck shifts. The colder the weather, the stiffer the shifter will be.

 

welcome to the ranger world, it'll shift like its on the rag, thats just a ranger. reliable as hell yet not a "butter shifter". and the idler pully will give a very faint squeal in cold weather, but check the tensioner as ford has had problems with them going crooked and squealing, but you'd really hear that. but if you shift problem persists and gets worse, check your tranny fluid level. might be low, or ya might not be givin it all the clutch.

 

I am in the same boat. I like my 2010, but I thought the shifting could be better. I drained out the factory fill(Mercon V) at 2000 mi. and replaced with Mobil 1 Syn. ATF(Mercon V rated). After about a thousand miles, there was no difference.

I changed it again with Amsoil Syn. Manual Trans. Fluid (MTF). It is very close to the same viscosity of Mercon V. I am at almost 10,000 mi. now and there is still very little, if any change in shift quality. I am glad I changed out the fluid early(looked like red metallic paint in the bucket), but no great improvements here.

 

install a Hurst shifter and see if that improves anything......mine went from a sloppy stick to a precision shifting machine

 

i wouldnt go switching around fluid, enough on the filter and seals mixing around will start to erode and eat at the seals. even changing the filter, you still chance hurting the seals

 

Changing fluids won't eat seals. It won't help shifting feel either.