I just bought a used 2002 Ranger XLT SC. 2.3L w/ 5 speed manual. 127k miles.

Background:
The orig owner had a clutch kit installed by a professional transmission shop ~1,000 miles ago. Clutch, master, and slave. Fluid was changed at this time too.
The owner said he noticed the 'hard shift' into 2nd as well, and asked the shop about it. The shop test drove it, and said its "normal for a vehicle with these miles".

I'm having a hard shift into 2nd gear [sometimes]. Not always an issue, but just on occasion.. By hard shift I mean its harder to pull into 2nd gear vs other gears. Sometimes not wanting to go into gear at all.

This morning when it was cold, 2nd gear wasn't doing a hard shift, but just seemed to make more drivetrain / transmission noise than other gears. 4th also had a similar noise, just not as loud.
Its not a grinding noise, its just a noise that I don't notice in 1st and 3rd..
Seems to go away when warmed up.


I have checked tranny fluid, it is good, just below the Fill hole.

I don't really buy the "this is normal for this many miles" response, considering a clutch kit was just installed.
Unless its something else, syncros?

 

What type of fluid is in the trans now ? Don't tell me what they said was put in. Pull the fill plug and check.

 

I can only tell you the color of what I dabbed out.

It was a reddish color.

I'm not too familiar w/ transmission fluid, so if you can tell me what to look for I'll do what I can to find out.