Transmission 'howl' in all but 4th gear

[TedW]

I just brought home an '89 Ranger V6 5speed(overdrive) 4wd pickup. 140K miles. I drove it about 50 miles to get home. The seller told me that it had some transmission noise and that someone had said it might be the main bearing.

Ok. That's all I know. I've fiddled under the hood on various vehicles for many years - but never a transmission.

I've put a few more miles on it now. Runs fine. Shifts fine. Just noisy in every gear but 4th. In 4th, it quiets right down.

I'm thinking the 4th gear anomaly means something to people that know more than me. Does it? I got a good deal on this so I have room in the budget to do some fixing. I just don't know what I need.

Ok, smart guys. Here's a chance to really impress me

 

[RonD]

Welcome to TRS

4th gear on a 5-speed overdrive transmission is 1:1 Ratio, what that means is no "gear" is being used, input shaft is connected directly to output shaft inside the transmission.

Your noise in other gears is most likely input gear or counter shaft.

First thing you need to find out is what manual transmission you have.
Look here: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/ManualTransmission.shtml

1989 will be 2.9l V6, and if 4x4 then you most likely have a Mitsubishi FM146 trans
These were OK but not as long lasting as Ford might have hoped for, lol, but yours is 28 years old, so not that bad.

It does need to be rebuilt, noise will get worse and you will lose all gears except 4th in best case scenario, worst case is trans will lock up when it fails.

The M5OD-R1(M5R1) manual trans was a better trans than the FM146 and an M5R1 from a 4.0l Ranger 4x4 1990-2012 will bolt up to your 2.9l and transfer case
M5R1 from any other engine size will NOT bolt up, nor would 2WD trans

May need to change drive lines, not sure on the lengths


So rebuild the FM146(wouldn't try used one because it will also be 28+ years old)
Or go with M5R1, even used they are a good bet, fairly trouble free


EDIT:

Found this FM146 to M5R1 swap article: http://www.therangerstation.com/Magazine/January2011/FM146_to_M5OD.shtml

 

[adsm08]

It could also be the pocket bearing, which sits between the input and output shafts and lets them spin at different speeds. This bearing is not moving in 4th gear, but is subject to excessive wear due to it's location. It often receives sub-optimal lubrication.

 

[gearfather]

noise in all but 4th..

I just brought home an '89 Ranger V6 5speed(overdrive) 4wd pickup. 140K miles. I drove it about 50 miles to get home. The seller told me that it had some transmission noise and that someone had said it might be the main bearing.

Ok. That's all I know. I've fiddled under the hood on various vehicles for many years - but never a transmission.

I've put a few more miles on it now. Runs fine. Shifts fine. Just noisy in every gear but 4th. In 4th, it quiets right down.

I'm thinking the 4th gear anomaly means something to people that know more than me. Does it? I got a good deal on this so I have room in the budget to do some fixing. I just don't know what I need.

Ok, smart guys. Here's a chance to really impress me

bad input and cluster usually due to low lube....reason that it is quiet in 4th is because the power goes straight thru in 4th and does not load the cluster...pull the cover and look for a line that is worn into the input teeth and front teeth on the cluster. before I retired "again" my company built approx. 3500 to 4000 manuals a year...strictly wholesale production building.. your scenario was common in approx. 65-70% of rebuilds.....

 

[TedW]

Thanks for the help

Thanks for the replies. It's nice to find out this is an active forum. I'm looking forward to this Ranger project. Resources like TheRangerStation are very important!

 

[RonD]

Bookmark this page: http://www.therangerstation.com/tech_library/index.shtml

Loads of Ranger info there