Transmission hissing when down shifting

[robmedina]

ok 2 things. 1st- when I drive long hwy distance- my transmission makes a hissing noice (rather a long hissssssssss) when I down shift from 5th to 4th (as I am slowing down) Sometimes it will do it downshifting from 4th to 3rd also. Any idea what that could be?
Truck info: 1997 ford ranger XLT, 2.3L 5 speed 2 wd.

2nd thing. I just changed my tranny fluid (Mercon V) I did not over fill it. But now when the truck does the above (hissss on downshifts) I smell the tranny fluid in the air, hich soon didpates, but for that brief second or two it almost smells like cat piss.
Any thought???
Much appreciate the help!
Rob

 

[Ranger44]

I've heard that Mercon V will cause problems in the manual trans. Regular Mercon rated fluid work best.

Other than that the seal above the shifter bushings could be broken.

 

[straycat]

ok 2 things. 1st- when I drive long hwy distance- my transmission makes a hissing noice (rather a long hissssssssss) when I down shift from 5th to 4th (as I am slowing down) Sometimes it will do it downshifting from 4th to 3rd also. Any idea what that could be?
Truck info: 1997 ford ranger XLT, 2.3L 5 speed 2 wd.

2nd thing. I just changed my tranny fluid (Mercon V) I did not over fill it. But now when the truck does the above (hissss on downshifts) I smell the tranny fluid in the air, hich soon didpates, but for that brief second or two it almost smells like cat piss.
Any thought???
Much appreciate the help!
Rob

Sounds like a breathing issue (vent). Cat piss does not really smell bad...you mean cat spray I'm sure That is a great smell....lol. Did you just change it or did you flush it (run fluid through it for awhile)? The trans needs to be flushed (cleaned out) and not just changed. Like automatic trans have a torque converter and that needs to be drained as well with the flushing. Since you have a standard I would really just clean the whole transmission. That might help.

 

[robmedina]

I've heard that Mercon V will cause problems in the manual trans. Regular Mercon rated fluid work best.

Other than that the seal above the shifter bushings could be broken.

I read somewhere that Mercon V is better- yadda yadda- and when I looked in the manual it said mercon v as well. I (admittedly bought a cheap- so I think anyway- version of the Mercon V) maybe that is my problem. I bought autozone mercon V instead of say- valvoline etc.

Seal above shifter boot? I will have to research that- it is very possible. I did replace the shifter bushing a few months ago.

It is just weird.

@Straycat- vent? would that hiss when the stick gets moved during downshifting?