Manual Transmission Rant

CrimsonEclipse · 04-13-2010, 01:04 PM

I have a 2003 B2300. It was purchased with a manual 5-speed with the intent of having a simple low maintenance vehicle.

I baby my truck with the intent of getting at least 120K out of the clutch.

Then one day my clutch pedal goes to the floor. Easy fix right? I probably let the hydraulic fluid get low. Fine, add fluid, it runs out of the bottom. (crap) I limp home, and attempt a fix, it shouldn't be too difficult right? Probably a slave cylinder. $150 fix, quick swap, ready by morning.

Repair manual, step #3: Remove transmission.... WTFH?!

Slave cylinder where I can't get to it? WHY?!?!?

Who the &*&(* designed this?!?!? Is there a purpose to making a transmission like this? (except to make more money?)

It's cost me a whole lot of time and money to fix this thing, and I am a whole lot of pissed off.

(rant off) thanks for listening (reading)

CE

Fx4wannabe01 · 04-13-2010, 01:19 PM

hahahahahaha....welcome to manual transmission ranger ownership. ain't looked into these trucks much have ya? lol.

Technically, fixing the truck is an under $100 fix. That's if you do the work yourself. Only need the slave. But it is smart to go ahead and do the clutch with that many miles on it. lol. Be sure to grab a lifetime warranty slave...that way you only pay that 100 when it takes a sh1t on you in 30k. I'm on #5 but my trucks a little different beast than yours. lol.

CrimsonEclipse · 04-13-2010, 01:33 PM

Meh, researched a bunch about the truck, never saw the slave cylinder as the weak point. (oopse).

I'm guessing there is no alternative but to get proficient at dropping the transmission, unless you know of a better drop in transmission. And if those are the only options, then this is turning out to be a throw away truck.

Man, what a waste.

pcollins · 04-13-2010, 03:29 PM

i have a 136,000 miles on my ranger. Never changed the clutch disc, only changed the slave once. i wouldn't call that a throw away vehicle. theres no reason the hydraulic/clutch unit shouldn't last over 100k.

Downey · 04-13-2010, 03:34 PM

i have 272k on my truck and its only been replaced twice.

92ranger2wd · 04-13-2010, 04:13 PM

The slave cylinder issues and the leaking shift rail plugs are the only common issues that plague the M50D, at least that I've heard or experienced. Despite these issues, they are far better than any automatic trans put in a ranger. Your intent of purchasing the five speed and having a low maintenance vehicle is right on track. It's the same decision I made when buying my ranger. If it would have been an A4LD, I would have walked away.

low_five · 04-13-2010, 06:49 PM

meh, just pull up your skirt and fix it.

**AllanD** · 04-13-2010, 08:13 PM

trust me, it is a bitch to get to, but you don't need to do it often.

AD

pcollins · 04-13-2010, 08:56 PM

actually, since i'm assuming its not a 4x4, its extremely easy to drop that tranny.

CrimsonEclipse · 04-14-2010, 09:26 AM

Yeah, yeah. You are all right, just suck it up.

It just seems the made it more complicated than necessary.

Hahnsb2 · 04-14-2010, 11:30 AM

My Dakota has an external slave cylinder

pcollins · 04-14-2010, 12:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hahnsb2

My Dakota has an external slave cylinder

did you know that under the hood of every dodge is a screw that when turned, will make the entire truck fall apart? thats how Chrysler holds all their vehicles together.

04-13-2010, 01:04 PM	#1
CrimsonEclipse Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Year: 2003 Make: Mazda Model: B2300 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Manual Transmission Rant I have a 2003 B2300. It was purchased with a manual 5-speed with the intent of having a simple low maintenance vehicle. I baby my truck with the intent of getting at least 120K out of the clutch. Then one day my clutch pedal goes to the floor. Easy fix right? I probably let the hydraulic fluid get low. Fine, add fluid, it runs out of the bottom. (crap) I limp home, and attempt a fix, it shouldn't be too difficult right? Probably a slave cylinder. $150 fix, quick swap, ready by morning. Repair manual, step #3: Remove transmission.... WTFH?! Slave cylinder where I can't get to it? WHY?!?!? Who the &&( designed this?!?!? Is there a purpose to making a transmission like this? (except to make more money?) It's cost me a whole lot of time and money to fix this thing, and I am a whole lot of pissed off. (rant off) thanks for listening (reading) CE
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04-13-2010, 01:19 PM	#2
Fx4wannabe01 February 2010 OTOTM Winner Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Boring, Oregon Year: 2001 Make: Ford Model: Ranger Class: Snow Wheeler/DD Used For: Pickin' up chicks. Posts: 1,786 Rep Power: 13 iTrader: (0)	hahahahahaha....welcome to manual transmission ranger ownership. ain't looked into these trucks much have ya? lol. Technically, fixing the truck is an under $100 fix. That's if you do the work yourself. Only need the slave. But it is smart to go ahead and do the clutch with that many miles on it. lol. Be sure to grab a lifetime warranty slave...that way you only pay that 100 when it takes a sh1t on you in 30k. I'm on #5 but my trucks a little different beast than yours. lol.
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04-13-2010, 03:29 PM	#4
pcollins Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Middle of Nowhere, NY Year: 2012 Make: GMC Model: Sierra 1500 Engine: 4.8L Class: 4x4 Used For: Around the farm, Daily Driver Posts: 931 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	i have a 136,000 miles on my ranger. Never changed the clutch disc, only changed the slave once. i wouldn't call that a throw away vehicle. theres no reason the hydraulic/clutch unit shouldn't last over 100k.
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04-13-2010, 03:34 PM	#5
Downey Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Muncy, PA Year: 1994 Make: ford Model: ranger Engine: 4.0 Class: 4x4 Used For: everything Posts: 1,606 Rep Power: 13 iTrader: (0)	i have 272k on my truck and its only been replaced twice. __________________ 94 ford ranger 4.0 5 spd with 260k Twin Sticks and 31s straight pipes
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04-13-2010, 04:13 PM	#6
92ranger2wd Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Year: 1992 Make: ford Model: ranger Engine: 2.3 Class: 2wd Posts: 57 Rep Power: 12 iTrader: (0)	The slave cylinder issues and the leaking shift rail plugs are the only common issues that plague the M50D, at least that I've heard or experienced. Despite these issues, they are far better than any automatic trans put in a ranger. Your intent of purchasing the five speed and having a low maintenance vehicle is right on track. It's the same decision I made when buying my ranger. If it would have been an A4LD, I would have walked away.
	Tweet

04-13-2010, 01:33 PM	#3
CrimsonEclipse Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Year: 2003 Make: Mazda Model: B2300 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Meh, researched a bunch about the truck, never saw the slave cylinder as the weak point. (oopse). I'm guessing there is no alternative but to get proficient at dropping the transmission, unless you know of a better drop in transmission. And if those are the only options, then this is turning out to be a throw away truck. Man, what a waste.
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04-13-2010, 08:13 PM	#8
AllanD RBV Technical Advisor Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: East-Central Pennsylvania Year: 1987... sorta Make: Ford Model: Ranger Supercab Engine: '93 4.0 Class: 4x4 Used For: Roadtrip Warrior Posts: 7,184 Rep Power: 47 iTrader: (18)	trust me, it is a bitch to get to, but you don't need to do it often. AD __________________ Gun Control - A theory espoused by some monumentally stupid people; who claim to believe, against all logic and common sense, that a violent predator who ignores the laws prohibiting them from robbing, raping, kidnapping, torturing and killing their fellow human beings will obey a law telling them that they cannot own a gun.
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04-13-2010, 08:56 PM	#9
pcollins Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Middle of Nowhere, NY Year: 2012 Make: GMC Model: Sierra 1500 Engine: 4.8L Class: 4x4 Used For: Around the farm, Daily Driver Posts: 931 Rep Power: 9 iTrader: (0)	actually, since i'm assuming its not a 4x4, its extremely easy to drop that tranny.
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04-14-2010, 09:26 AM	#10
CrimsonEclipse Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Year: 2003 Make: Mazda Model: B2300 Posts: 30 Rep Power: 10 iTrader: (0)	Yeah, yeah. You are all right, just suck it up. It just seems the made it more complicated than necessary.
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04-14-2010, 11:30 AM	#11
Hahnsb2 Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Battle Ground WA Year: 88-95 Make: Ford-Dodge Model: BII-Dakota Engine: 4.0-5.2 Turbo Class: Real 4WD, 3WD. Used For: Going where I point it-Going fast Posts: 4,411 Rep Power: 24 iTrader: (1)	My Dakota has an external slave cylinder __________________ 88 Bronco II, 4.0L, M5OD, 4.56s, Aussie Locked 8.8/D35, 1354M, 34" LTBs 95 Dakota CC, 5.2, 5 Spd, 2WD,Turbo, Megasquirt, 3.55s, Locked
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