93 2.3l M5OD noise, other issues, trans or clutch?

[cubber]

Hey y'all! I just bought a 94 Ranger with the 2.3l and M5OD trans on Saturday. It runs great with 187k miles. I biught it to save some gas $$$, and I grew up with my Dad having Rangers and Bronco II's, so I also love the vehicles.

I tried searching for a couple of hours, but couldn't find a situation EXACTLY like mine, although I'm sure there has been. I'm new to Rangers and their manual transmissions as an owner, but I am fairly mechanical.

I was on the interstate today, and my truck felt like it cut out really bad (I think I was in OD, going 70 or so). My transmission has had a whine since I got it, but I hadn't riven the truck enough to know anything more than that everything seemed to work ok. There had been a few time when the truck didn't seem to want to go into third. Now, there is a louder whine from the trans, and sometimes even a noise I can only describe as a scraping sound, with some grinding mixed in.. Sometimes the truck goes right into gear, and sometimes it will go in a little, and then grind, sometimes it doesn't want to go at all. This seems to be mainly in 3rd and 4th. As I was looking over the truck Sunday, it looked like the fluid for the hyd clutch was slightly low, so I added some DOT 3 brake fluid like the lid said. It may be slightly over full. the clutch feels smooth and doesn't seem to slip, but sometimes it seems like its not disengaging all the way, thus making it hard to shift, and grinding into gear. I know there are synchronizers that wear out, but all of tis has happened rather suddenly. One the trans is in gear, it stays in and pulls fine. I am trying to determine if this is a trans, clutch, or slave cylinder issue, and of course, how to fix it!

Sorry for all the wind, I just know it's easier to help with more info. I am looking forward to etting to know this forum, and contributing info as I learn it. i am on a classic truck forum, and have made some lifelong friends there, i hope to do here, too.
Thanks,
Matt

 

[Taragon]

Sounds like your tranny is going out.... The common failure is for the fluid to leak out the 3 rubber plugs in the rear (or in some cases, the shifter top) and then the input shaft bearing eats itself, heats up the input shaft, and welds it to the mainshaft.

Bring it down here to B'ham and I can rebuild it for you...

 

[cubber]

It shifted ok this am, just 1 or 2 times it grinded, and it whined, but mainly when the engine was braking it. If trans us bad, running it a bit more shiudn't hurt it, I'm gonna chech fluid, and if it aint low, I guess I'll pull it and look into rebuilding or replacing.......any more thoughts, opinions???

 

[Explorin94]

The common failure is for the fluid to leak out the 3 rubber plugs in the rear (or in some cases, the shifter top) and then the input shaft bearing eats itself, heats up the input shaft, and welds it to the mainshaft.

The common failure of these transmissions are low oil...which is attributed to the 3 plugs on the back of the shift plate that align with the shift rails. The bearing that is spoken of is the pocket bearing which is not an input bearing at all. ut sits in a well at the end of the input shaft. This bearing keeps the input and mainshaft aligned horizontally. If you are hearing a "whine" then it is probably safe to say that the pocket bearing has failed and the input and main shafts are no longer in alignment. Definately check the fluid level first and go from there, but I think the damage is done and it needs to come out and be taken apart to see the extent of the damage. It shifted fine this morning as the fluid was cold and had not heated up yet. Do this first before you go ordering parts as the parts couls exceed what you want to pay. For a rebuild kit and input and main shafts I would expect reoughly 300-400 dollars for everything. These transmissions are easy to rebuild just need to be good at puzzles and lay them out as they came apart.

 

[Taragon]

I was talking about the input shaft bearing. The one that is behind the front seal housing. That little trough that feeds it gets stopped up with all the crud and metal bits caused by the low fluid, which in turn stops the bearing from being oiled, and then it eats itself.

The pocket bearing does this as well, but they generally go hand-in-hand when they go out.

 

[cubber]

You guys were right!! When I pulled the drain plug, maybe a cup of the nastiest stuff I ever saw came out! The drain plug was also covered in metallic sludge. Just for fun, I put about 3 qts of dex 3/mercon in, and a qt of lucas trans stop slip. I can't believe the timing, if I hadn't bought the truck THAT day, he prob would have lost the trans the next day, since he ran it out of oil. Best I can tell, its been leaking from up top some where. Anyway, I drove it after the fluid was put in, and it shifted a TON better! Sometimes it will gring for a split second going into 4th, but overall, a vast improvement. It does however, whine pretty loud, especially in the lower 3 gears when decelerating. Should I start getting ready for a swap? Will driving it like this hurt, even if I keep it full of oil? How much longer do I have to figure out what to do? Its only a knock around vehicle, I have two other trucks, but I really like it, and agter browsing this site, I'm startin to feel a plan hatchin'! Thanks for the good info!

 

[Taragon]

The damage is done. Rebuild or replace.

 

[cubber]

Thanks. I guess I did buy a time bomb. Where is the best place to get a rebjild kit. I'm not much on junkyard ones, except for cores. Would I be better off buying a brand new one? Will it ruin the rebuild potential of the one I have to drive it a little longer, since "the damage is done"?

 

[cubber]

I know it seems like I'm beating a dead horse, but it's not unpleasant to drive like it is, but I guess considering that there is noise, then there is still additional damage occuring. I got screwed on this deal!

 

[Taragon]

Want your $ back for the truck? Lol. I'll buy it for why you paid for it.

 

[cubber]

Want your $ back for the truck? Lol. I'll buy it for why you paid for it.

What's it worth? I paid $1400 for it.

 

[cubber]

I saw you were guaging interest for a step by step rebuild write-up for this trans. Is that something that's available now?

 

[scotts90ranger]

if you do a search there's a fairly recent rebuild post with pics for these things, it's not all that hard.

A rebuild kit on ebay with synchro's and all bearings is $175 shipped, I just got one a few months ago, if there's that much metal around you might need some hard parts but they're fairly available, I found a 5/reverse slider for the '87-91 vintage for $45 at a local transmission parts store...

 

[cubber]

Thanks! I know I'll fix it, I love this little truck! I would like to turbo it one day as well, but I need to finish my current project, lol. I think I have a problem. I currently have 3 running, driving trucks, and none of emvare for sale, either!

 

[Taragon]

I haven't written it, come on down to B'ham and let's rebuild yours. Take about 2 hours and a steak at Logan's. Lol