Hard shifting
 

I have a 2003 4cy Ranger with manual tranny and 87k miles. When moving the tranny shifts great in all gears. When the engine is off it also shifts great. However when I am stopped and the engine is running it is difficult to get in to gear. Even the higher gears likes 3rd-5th, but especially 1st. Sometimes it will go in gear fine, but in general it is difficult. However there is never been any grinding at all. I was thinking either a clutch master or slave cylinder or a pilot bearing. I would think both would prevent the input shaft from slowing down when I press in the clutch pedal and cause a difficult shift. Is there any way to determine which (if either) is the problem? Is there anything else it could be? Thanks for any help.

I also did some tests. I lifted the rear wheels off of the ground. When I push the clutch pedal in and have it in first gear, there is no movement of the rear wheels. So I think there is no dragging clutch and no problems with the slave cylinder. I then put it in neutral (with engine running) and then pushed the clutch in and immediately tried to put it in gear. When I started to put it in gear, it wouldn't go, but the rear wheels really started moving fast. After a few seconds the gear shifter went in to gear and the wheels immediately stopped moving. I then did the same thing but I waited 4 seconds before I put the gear shifter in first. This time the wheels didn't move and the shifter went in gear easily. I would think the syncros were bad, but they seem to work when the truck is moving, and usually the car will go in to reverse ok. But there are no indications that the clutch or the pilot or throwout bearings are bad either.

you need to change out the transmission gear oil

my advice is to grab 2 1 quart bottles of SUPER CONCENTRATED DURALUBE

and have a transmission shop drain the old oil

make sure they pour in the duralube 1st and then top it up with gear oil

The manual says you are supposed to use Mercon only, not gear oil. Is that wrong? It is very easy to change the oil yourself. I changed it this weekend and put in new Mercon. I am nervous about putting anything different in because anything that is more "slick" can screw up the syncros. They rely on friction to synchronize the speeds of the input and countershaft to the speed of the output shaft so that the dog gears can engage. Even the duralube website says to only use in automatic transmissions only.

manual transmission uses gear oil

not automatic transmission fluid

call your dealership and ask the mechanic

No, the M5OD manual transmission on rangers uses Mercon V. NOT gear oil. It uses Automatic Transmission Fluid. Call your local ford dealer and just ask.

Yes, don't put gear lube in your Rangers manual trans. Maybe cheese man should think and consult the owners manual prior to posting incorrect info.

that`s funny

when i got my old edge ranger serviced and i had the tranny flushed

my invoice states that i was charged for 5 litres of 75w140 weight gear oil

If they actually put that in the transmission, then they screwed up. The only ranger transmissions that ever took gear lube were the Mitsubishi ones, and you can even put ATF in those if you want.

Change the fluid and filter at 48,000 km (30,000 miles) intervals under the following conditions:
Sustained high speed driving during hot weather with temperatures above 32°C (90°F).
Towing a trailer for a long distance over 1,600 Km (1,000 miles).
Accumulating 8,000 Km (5,000 miles) or more per month.
Continuous running service.
Use MERCON® V Transmission Fluid XT-5-QM meeting Ford specification MERCON® V.

he has a manual tranny

its a manual there bud....no filter.