A very unique problem 94 manual 4cyl

[lassitude]

Simply put, driving home from college yesterday, on the highway in 5th, going a steady 65.

The truck lurches forward and then continues, but it is only slowing down.

Pull to the side of the road, the engine is still running fine as ever.

Put it in first and it doesn't move forward, but when the clutch is fully engaged it stalls.

AT that moment I smelled what almost reminded me of a faint burning rubber or brake pad smell (probably the clutch if I had to guess).


Had the transmission out over a month ago to replace the slave cylinder, and the clutch looked almost new.

Was wondering what is the best way to determine if the transmission is still good, aside from pulling the thing out again.

Have tried every gear, same result, wont move and stalls when the clutch is fully engaged. Still have great pressure for the clutch pedal as well.

 

[BRUTUS_T_HOG]

well the only thing i can think of is that the 5th/Reverse rocker came loose and you're actually stuck in 5th.

will the truck roll forward at all in neutral?

 

[7.5L_STX]

ive had the same exact problem on my old 89.

it was stuck in 5th gear and when i pulled it apart there was no oil in it!! idiots that put it in forgot the oil! but all i did was pop the cover off, looked everything over (looked fine) slid the synchros back and threw the cover back on. worked like a charm. sold it to a buddy and hes put over 30,000 on it since that happened.

 

[lassitude]

rolls fine in neutral, goes into every gear, now, jacked it up tonight.

Pulled off the little dust cover for the transmission, pressed down on the clutch and watched, again, excellent pressure, but I see absolutely no movement, not like I did when I replaced the slave cylinder a month or so ago.

If the thing were stuck in 5th, when I depress the clutch and "engage" it, it should move forward if even a jolt, wouldn't you think?

Now, I recently learned that the duralast (auto zone house brand) slave cylinders are known to be rather crappy, think it might be related to that?

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well... It kinda sounds like a lack of fuel... when your truck runs out of fuel or doesn't get enough at all it tends to lurch then coast down... maybe your HP fuel pump went out...? that would explain it.. not getting enough fuel to power the truck but enough to let it idle?

 

[lassitude]

issue isnt fuel, I can rev it as high as I want and maintain it, the problem is transmission related;

 

[Original_Ranger84]

you sure? because under a load it uses more fuel. otherwise the only thing I can think of is that your transmissions screwed and something broke on the inside...?

 

[RangerSVT]

Does it try and take off when releasing the clutch slowly in 1st?? Definitely sounds clutch related, though I doubt its the slave cylinder, cuz you push the clutch in, you can put it in gear and doesnt stall the motor, and when released it stalls...could be the throwout bearing, clutch fork, or clutch itself...try this, try pushing the truck fast enough to idle down the road in 1st gear (usually around 2-3 mph) once you got it rolling that fast, jump in, clutch, 1st and release...it should roll without stalling, if it stalls, then its possible you have internal damage to trans, and you have to pull the trans to further diagnose...
SVT

 

[lassitude]

Does it try and take off when releasing the clutch slowly in 1st?? Definitely sounds clutch related, though I doubt its the slave cylinder, cuz you push the clutch in, you can put it in gear and doesnt stall the motor, and when released it stalls...could be the throwout bearing, clutch fork, or clutch itself...try this, try pushing the truck fast enough to idle down the road in 1st gear (usually around 2-3 mph) once you got it rolling that fast, jump in, clutch, 1st and release...it should roll without stalling, if it stalls, then its possible you have internal damage to trans, and you have to pull the trans to further diagnose...
SVT

took off the top cover of the transmission and peered inside, aside from a little wear and tear, everything appears to be in order, the only thing worth mentioning is that the fluid level is dangerously low, spinning the drive shaft everything inside moves as it should (its in neutral with the cover off).

the smell that I mentioned before if I had to guess would be due to a lack of fluid, I havnt touched it since I brought it home and started taking it apart yesterday, so my current thinking is as follows.

Not enough fluid=fluid both lubricates and cools.

This causes the gears to heat up to a level they were not designed for, the gears expand, as is the nature of metal, and nothing is able to work.

The metal is now cool, and everything rotates, so it was an issue of heat and fluid over everything else?

Havning a mechanic who worked on the vehicle/owned it before he sold it to me. Known him for 40 years and trust his opinion.

 

[RangerSVT]

Sounds very logical...I'd drain all the fluid out, top it off with ATF, and give her a test drive and see how she is...
SVT

 

[lassitude]

Sounds very logical...I'd drain all the fluid out, top it off with ATF, and give her a test drive and see how she is...
SVT

2 things,
1.) What is ATF? Auto transmission fluid?, I was informed gear oil was used for manual transmissions.

2.)Have to find out where the leak is and plug it so this doesn't happen again

 

[modelageek]

2 things,
1.) What is ATF? Auto transmission fluid?, I was informed gear oil was used for manual transmissions.

2.)Have to find out where the leak is and plug it so this doesn't happen again[/QUOTE

you use mercon/ atf. there are plugs on the shift rail at the top of the tranny they are known to fail and leak.

 

[lassitude]

found the problem, it was evident to my mechanic but not me, apparently the front gear has more or less self destructed, so ill buy my neighbor's old ranger for parts and that will be that, thanks everyone.

 

[RangerSVT]

Glad the problem was found, and yeah, ATF is automatic trans fluid...All Ford light duty transmissions, both auto and manual, call for ATF. Not all local autoparts stores know this, so don't rely on them. Take it from a Master Ford Certified mechanic
SVT

 

[Original_Ranger84]

Well the older transmissions used gear oil, my TK5 take 80-85w90.

And make sure your neighbors truck has the same engine.