Transmission issues
 

Good evening
I do not have a ford by but have a 1994 Mazda B3000 and the Mazda form told me my tranny was an American tranny used n rangers and I should come to a ranger forum I have a Mazda b3000 5 speed manual transmission its a nice little truck and I have had no problem besides my hoses and my gaskets are all starting to go but what can you do the truck is nearly 30 years old, I have a small transmission leak and I wanted to try and see how much fluid I had and if I needed to and any, I could not get the fill off so I saw another smaller bolt to the side of and the same level as the fill, I removed it thinking if I added some transmission fluid It would pour out when I had enough fluid in the transmission but that never happened, so I eventual got my fill removed and I drained the access fluid, but when I went to place the small bolt back in it just will not seed completely, and I am hoping what Removed wasn't something important and maybe a part that is supposed to add tension on a component in the transmission, the transmission runs fine and I am able to drive it, I am wondering if anyone here knows what I took off, I have been unsuccessful on finding any useful diagram or schematic that could shed some light on what the part is.
I have been driving it for a few weeks now and now I am starting to have some issues, I am no slipping gears or grinding gears and it drives find but I am now having issues shifting gears especially into first, I am looking at getting the transmission replaced but I was hoping these issues was my clutch package.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.ran...1254f4db3d.png

Thank you for your time.

Welcome to the forum

Yes, Ford started building the Mazda B-series in the US in 1994, you have the first year, it was done to avoid higher import taxes, Ford was part owner of Mazda at the time
Its built on the Ranger frame with Ranger drive train but Mazda body parts and badges

You have a 3.0l Vulcan engine, used in Rangers from 1991 thru 2008, B3000 1994 thru 2008

You have a Mazda M5OD-R1 transmission(aka M5R1), Rangers used them as well from 1988 thru 2012

It uses ATF, yes automatic transmission fluid in a manual transmission, Mercon V was spec, so do not use Gear Oil or it would be very hard to shift


M5OD-R1 Service manual here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...hop_manual.pdf

Could be the 5th/reverse shift rod bolt, seen on page 74, but not sure
If you took it out and then put it back in without driving, it would be fine the exterior bolts are to hold stuff in place after assembly, nothing will move around unless transmission is used

The FILL and DRAIN plugs are the big ones, need a 15/16" socket or box end wrench, if its already rounded off then try a pipe wrench
It only holds 2.8 quarts of ATF BONE DRY, so after draining it may only take 2 quarts to refill

Common leak point on these is from the 3 rubber plugs at the top rear of shifter housing, seen here: https://www.therangerstation.com/tec...g-maintenance/

I have a 88 standard ranger. The tranny is shot and I acquired an 88 ranger XLT tranny. Will they interchange and will there be any issues that may occur?

Welcome to the forum

1988 could have 4 different transmissions
2.3l engine, manual, 2WD or 4WD, 2 models
2.9l engine, manual, 2WD or 4WD, 2 models

So you will need to be more specific