Just bought a 2002 ranger 4.0 4wd 5spd. On cold startups the belt or something makes a squaking noise. I sprayed belt dressing on it to see if it would go away and it didn't so that should elimate the belt rite? Also I have noticed that the truck goes into third a little ackward most of the time. Every gear is super smooth except third. It goes in fine but it seems like it gets hung up on something for a split second thats not there on the other gears. Maybe I'm just not shifting hard enough because if I shift it a little harder into third its fine. Any ideas?
Dan

 

Hello and welcome to RF, change the belt and any pulleys with any play in them(this worked for me) as for the gears sticking when was the last time the transmission was flushed or serviced,my grears were rough and sticky i did a transmission flush, end of problem.

 

welcome to RF,thats what eliminated my problem aswell..and as for the gears i would get the tranny serviced and flush...especially since u bought the truck used...good luck with that

 

well its a 5spd how could i get it flushed? I know I can get it changed but not flushed? I assume it has a two plugs on the tranny one on top and one on the bottom? Good ol ATF rite?

 

The Mazda-manufactured manual transmissions used in Rangers are far from world class. That notchiness is a normal characteristic. A change to synthetic ATF may smooth it somewhat.

 

how does the ranger tranny differ from say a f150 tranny? I had a 90 thunderbird SC with the same m5r2 tranny as the ranger/f150 and the previous owner had it rebuilt with f150 brass syncros and it was notchy as hell compared to the ranger tranny

 

the rangere uses the M5-R1. the 150 and mn12 bird/cat used the R2.

yes its ATF, and ive found that mixin in some synchromesh will tend to smooth things out a lil. not earth shattering, but better.

welcome!

 

dont forget i went thru almost 3 mazda automatics in my day. all in under 50K miles.

 

I would like to hear what u find out as my 2002 does the same dang thing , its a ***** to get into third most of the time.
i have had it in twice for this when it was under warrenty. i still have the extended but it has a copay as it were so does the synthetic seem to help?Also anyone know if there will be a warrenty issue with the synthetic.