There's a hole in my transmission.

[wakingtowinter]

Bought this truck yesterday. 1994 4x4 with 4.0 and M5od I think? Has 252k with newer 4.0 and original transmission. New clutch. Has a pretty new Skyjacker stage 2 lift. Kinda like buying a lift kit with a free truck. Oh wait, I got a free transmission problem too.

drove it about 250 miles back home with very few problems. When test driving it was hard shifting into first one time, and on the way home it did it once, but 95% of the time it shifted well. When I got back home I was driving it around the neighborhood and it started getting really hard to shift into any gear. By the end of the night, I couldn't shift without turning off the engine. It also grinds when going into reverse. I drained the fluid and put in new fluid. Didn't help anything. I don't know much about transmissions, but I noticed a hole in the case, through which I can see what I think is the clutch. WTF? Is there supposed to be a hole in my transmission?

I did a lot of reading last night on TRS and other sites and from what I can tell I need to:

1. try adjusting the shift linkage.
2. try bleeding the clutch
3. possibly replace pilot bearing
4. possibly replace slave cylinder

So I'm asking the wonderful and wise people on here - am I headed in the right direction or is there something else I need to think about? And wtf is that hole?

 

[Earl43P]

Holy big pictures, Batman!

There is a rubber plug missing from that inspection port. No biggee.

Sounds like a slave or master issue to me. There are a couple methods to bleed air out, but it's easy to make it worse. Use the search for "bleed clutch", and read up on how you want to attempt it.

I like the one where you attach a tube to the bleed port AND invert the master and stroke it by hand. If that fails, you may need to replace the slave (or master, but slaves are more failure prone).

This one: http://www.therangerstation.com/forums/showthread.php?t=75422&highlight=bleed+clutch

 

[low_five]

the hole is normal... its a viewing window. the reason its hard to get in and out of gear is because your clutch isnt fully disengaging. its like trying to put it in gear without stepping on the clutch almost. there are several possibilities

1) your clutch line is hydraulic so it might have air in it.
2) there is a cylinder inside the bellhousing that moves when you step on the clutch, it might be shot or going out or leaking
3) your master cylinder might be bad
4) your pressure plate (pinches the clutch to the flywheel) might be going bad.

either way, bet on taking the transmission out and replacing the slave, and clutch. should probably change the pressure plate and flywheel while youre in there.

not a bad deal thats a sharp truck

 

[yodaman1151]

look at the clutch master cylinder and MAKE SURE THERE IS FLUID IN IT!!! can't believe that wasn't the first reply! it takes regular DOT 3 brake fluid. There is a little white reservoir on firewall on the drivers side by the hood hinge

if the fluid is all gone it means two things...
1. you have a leak
2. you have to bleed the clutch system, which is like bleeding brakes. have someone pump the clutch pedal a couple times and hold it. while being held open the bleeder valve and release the pressure/air and close it back up. the bleeder is on top of the transmission right next to where the hydraulic line goes into the slave cylinder

hope this helps and nice truck!!

 

[wakingtowinter]

look at the clutch master cylinder and MAKE SURE THERE IS FLUID IN IT!!! can't believe that wasn't the first reply! it takes regular DOT 3 brake fluid. There is a little white reservoir on firewall on the drivers side by the hood hinge

Yes, the reservoir is in fact completely empty I'll try bleeding it and if that doesn't work, then probably needs a new slave? or where else could the leak be?