Symptoms of a clutch plate coming loose?

[rdsrds123]

Have an intermittent problem. It began kinda like the clutch master cylinder was about to fail.

When I disengaged the shiftier out of first gear to neutral, going into second gear, it seemed like maybe the clutch pedal wasn't being pushed in far enough.

Now I get loud metallic crashes when I down shift sometimes. Most times not.

Thought it could be a motor mount.

Once, it seemed the clutch was slipping upon changing gears and accelerating.

It all seems to be coming from under the dash area, before the shifter. I can feel all this through the shifter. Shifts smooth.

Seems like the trans is coming loose from the engine

Had a clutch installed a year ago.

Thanks, guys...Ideas?

 

[rdsrds123]

duh

I think it is a bad transmission. 145K Must not have oil in it. Got to check tomorrow.

 

[RonD]

Since clutch was changed a year ago I would suspect pilot bearing or failing slave, assuming these are new.

M5OD-R1 transmissions do break, they just don't break that often, compared to how many are on the road.

"New" used to mean "it works"
New now means "never tested, but we have a warranty"
So I would suspect the clutch parts first

 

[rdsrds123]

Hummm, the old pilot bearing being worn out trick. Crafty CHAOS agents!

 

[rdsrds123]

Slave cylinder was replaced with clutch a year ago. You would think they would check the trans oil then. Not leaking at all!

When I started out downhill, and shifted from second towards third gear, but instead of going into third gear, I hit the brakes when in neutral, heavy metal parts seems to be shifting around inside the trans. Can't be good.

I see a Ranger same year and engine, being parted out in Delaware on CL. I'm in Baltimore.

 

[rdsrds123]

this Ranger is a 2007.

 

[RonD]

Picking up another trans would be good, if price is right.

Pulling out the old one will tell you where the problem is, so you can either replace it with the other one or sell it if it is a clutch issue

 

[rdsrds123]

Problem solved! A harmonic balancer on the front of the driveshaft had broken it's rubber mount and was rattling back and forth. It weighted about 4 pounds.

 

[RonD]

Good work

Thanks for posting the fix

 

[rdsrds123]

I had it put on a lift after a mechanic drove it and could not hear the problem. While he was prying things around underneith, I saw this harmonic balancer move. No one in the shop had seen that problem before. The driveshaft was removed and the ring was taken off. Driveshaft was replaced and everything is now ok, even without that damn balancer, even at high speeds.

 

[RonD]

Only the 4cyl Rangers had those balancers, not a common issue but have read about it before, just assumed a V6 engine, my mistake

 

[rdsrds123]

I need to apologize here to anyone trying to figure out what this problem was. I failed to consider identifying what engine/trans combination this Ranger had. My profile also shows I have a '92 Ranger. That truck is gone, and in its place is this 2007. Thanks again, everyone.

 

[mnnathan]

I have had this exact problem in a Toyota Tacoma. Baffling until you see it then you are like "Oh....duh....Now I feel stupid for not seeing that."

 

[rdsrds123]

Can't diagnose it by ear alone unless you've seen this one before.