Manual Transmission Rant

[CrimsonEclipse]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[92ranger2wd]

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]

meh, just pull up your skirt and fix it.

 

[AllanD]

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

AD

 

[pcollins]

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

 

[CrimsonEclipse]

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

It just seems the made it more complicated than necessary.

 

[Hahnsb2]

My Dakota has an external slave cylinder

 

[pcollins]

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.

 

[mp3deviant721]

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.

This is quote material. I'm taking it.

 

[danger_ranger_club]

i love that! funk dodge

 

[Hahnsb2]

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.

I've heard it all before, move along fanboy

The clutch hydraulic system is the Achilles' heal of the RBV, don't replace it when you drop your tranny, it'll leak. Then you have to drop the tranny to replace it, then you can never get it bled properly, then once you finally do, the quick disconnect pops off when you're driving, starting the whole process over again.

It's refreshing for once to just unbolt the slave on my Dakota, replace tranny, bolt slave up, and it just effing works, no bleeding, no leaking, no BS.