Hey guys, this is my first post, and I'm really posting to help my grandfather-in-law. I frequent r3vlimited.com (an 3-series BMW forum), so I'm not new to automotive forums, or cars for that matter! Nice to be here tho, y'all have a nice site here.

My grandfather-in-law has a 2008 Ranger, 4.0L 2wd, 5-speed manual. It has under 10 000 miles on it, an is driven carefully and has been serviced by Ford. The transmission shifts rather firmly, the syncros seem to have a good bit of resistance. It sometimes takes a good arm to pull the trans into gear. The problem seems most prominent on 1-2 up shifts, 3-2 down and 2-1 down. The clutch, in my opinion, DOES seem to be disengaging, as it does not seem to effect 4th, 5th or Reverse, and does not have the problem sitting still.

Any ideas? Anyone else with this problem? Any TSBs out on this? What is the general opinion on switching the Merc V fluid to Redline MTL gear oil?

 

Honestly I think that it is just the transmission.
Have you spoken to the dealer about it?

I know on my 5 spd, It is hard to get into first if I am rolling to a stop. Usually I just use a bit more effort, and it slips in.

Remember that the trans is only 10,000 miles old. It is barely broken in.

 

he should still be under warranty... get it in to Ford before it's too late...

 

Sounds normal.

Any concerns take it to the dealer, thats what warranty is for.

 

He has taken it to the dealer twice, and they seem unable/unwilling to do anything about it

They say its "normal", and even tho I don't know Fords, I know cars, and it does not seem normal to me.

Just wondering, also, what the next line of recourse is in the matter

 

Try taking it to a different dealer.
Keep in mind though, that it is:
1) A Ford
2) A domestic truck that is getting long in the tooth
3) Not a BMW