3.0 Manual Hard to Shift

[lentalsup]

My ranger is a 99 with the 3.0 manual transmission. It is hard shift into 1st gear mostly while the engine is running. It also has some resistance shifting up and down through the other gears while driving. Coming to a stop, I sometimes have to turn the engine off and that somehow makes it easier to shift into first, then I can start it again while in first (clutch in obviously). I tried to blead the clutch fluid, that seamed to help a slightly, but that only lasted a couple of days. I don't notice any leaking under the truck. I was thinking it could be the slave cylinder or synchros. Any ideas? Any suggestions welcome. Thanks.

 

[MrE_Powers]

try changing gear flid. other wise you know the answer.... time for rebuild.

 

[lentalsup]

thanks, I'll try it out.

 

[fixizin]

How many miles on your truck/tranny?

I've got the same rig, but low miles (33K). My 3rd gear synchro has been a bit "touchy" almost from day one. I believe this a well-documented problem with the 3rd blocking ring on M5OD trannies built prior to Nov. 1999... IIRC there was a TSB, #321 maybe??

I need to follow-up on that... probably too late to make Ford pay for it at this point... dealer stonewalled me on it way back then... fookers.

Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the gearbox. It has a much more "definite" feel than the Nissans and Toyos I test drove back then. The same good feel with every Mazda I've driven, truck or car.

 

[lentalsup]

How many miles on your truck/tranny?

I've got the same rig, but low miles (33K). My 3rd gear synchro has been a bit "touchy" almost from day one. I believe this a well-documented problem with the 3rd blocking ring on M5OD trannies built prior to Nov. 1999... IIRC there was a TSB, #321 maybe??

I need to follow-up on that... probably too late to make Ford pay for it at this point... dealer stonewalled me on it way back then... fookers.

Otherwise I'm pretty happy with the gearbox. It has a much more "definite" feel than the Nissans and Toyos I test drove back then. The same good feel with every Mazda I've driven, truck or car.

I have 102k on it.

 

[4x4RangerGuy]

It sounds like a release issue with the clutch if you can't get it into first at a stop.

If you bleed it and it gets slightly better but returns to worse, then you most likely have a leak somewhere in the hydraulics. Have someone work the clutch while you inspect the master cylinder and the slave cylinder. The slave could be leaking just enough to puddle inside the bellhousing. Pull out the inspection cover and check to make sure the slave in pushing the release bearing properly.

 

[cowboy2199]

One thing nobody has mentioned, is that your pilot bushing in the end of the crank is probably bad. I had the same issues you have about a year ago. I demised that it indeed was the pilot bushing. Thats the part that helps support the end of the input shaft, while allowing a difference in speeds between the engine and trans..

HOpe this helps. I just went ahead and had the guy replace the clutch and slave cylinder. (I didnt have a shop to do the work).