2nd gear whine.

[JackLikesTrucks]

'02 Ranger XLT with 100k on a 2.3L 5speed manual.

Getting a mild constant whine in 2nd gear. Clutch in or out. Accelerating/Decelerating. Doesn't matter. No sound out of neutral, or 1,3,4,5 gears. Just 2.

I'm planning a summer tranny 100,000 mile refresh with: new bearing&seal kit / upgrade rubber plugs to freeze plugs / new shifter cup (maybe FX4 upgrade?) / new clutch

What's up with 2nd gear?

 

[racsan]

not sure but when mine made noise in 2nd (and only 2nd) it was difficult to get in or out of 2nd as well, 2 days later i lost 2nd altogether. put in a rebuilt trans. couldnt see anything wrong when i pulled the top cover.

 

[JackLikesTrucks]

Interesting. Could you get around 2nd? to say 1st and 3rd?

I'd love to see if this is a issue with these otherwise bullet proof trannys.

 

[racsan]

yes, i was on my way home when 2nd went, i had just gone around a corner, was getting ready to clutch and go for 3rd when there was a noise, (think it may have been a bang, its been about 3 years ago) i coasted around the next corner to a stop and started checking to see what i had. i still had everything but 2nd, in 2nd it was just like nuetral, no noise, no go. i drove it home winding it out in 1st, skipping to 3rd and ordered a rebuild unit from a local salvage place. if it was 5th id lost, id have just driven it the rest of its days as a 4-speed and not bothered replaceing it. my rebuilt trans cost $1,100. i also put in a clutch kit and slave cyl while i had everything apart. it only had 80,000 miles on it at that time. ive got 122,000 on it now. my 1st ranger was a '88 2wd 2.3 with over 200,000 on it when i traded it and it still had the original trans. i think my failed trans had low oil before i got it, the 1st gear on the input shaft inside the case showed signs of wear. it did have leaking shift-rail plugs (do a search, very common issue) the manual is still a better trans overall than the auto. ive put some heavy loads on this rebuilt unit and not had any issues other than it doesnt like to be downshifted from 5th to 4rth or 3rd to 2nd. goes up through the gears just fine. i check my trans fluid at every engine oil change and for the first couple of years i changed it every 6 months.

 

[JackLikesTrucks]

Is the rail plug an issue on 2002's?

 

[racsan]

if it has rubber/plastic plugs, then yes. im not sure if they ever started putting steel plugs in, when i got my rebuilt unit, it had steel plugs. you can get the steel ones and change them out.