Transmission questions 95 B2300

[Manger_95]

So I own a 95 Mazda B2300, 2.3L with the 5spd transmission, today out of nowhere, just normal driving, all of a sudden my truck started making a bad rattling noise that sounds like it may be coming from the transmission, it doesnt do it when I'm idle, in neutral or coasting, only when I put it in gear and push on the gas pedal, once i take my foot off the pedal or put it in neutral the noise goes away, It does it in every single gear, even the 5th gear "overdrive". could this be my transmission failing, or the clutch, or could it just need fluid, I'm new to ford and new to working on manual transmissions so I'm a little clueless. I drive this truck everyday and can not afford to have it break down on me. Any advice would be much appreciated, thank you.

 

[RonD]

Most common cause of drive train noise are the u-joints in the drive shaft, they wear out.

Keys in your pocket, Block the tires and leave trans in 1st gear, then get under the truck move drive shaft with your hand see if you can find the noise.

4cyl engines also had a balancer on the transmission end of the drive shaft, these can also wearout, center rubber rots out.

You will have an M5OD-R1 manual trans, M5R1
Used from 1988 to 2012 in Rangers
They are very good transmissions and rarely have problems.
One weak point is the 3 rubber plugs at the top rear of trans, they can leak over time causing low transmission fluid levels.

On the drivers side of trans will be a lower Drain bolt, and a higher FILL bolt.
Park on level ground, block tires
Remove the higher FILL bolt, some fluid may drip out that means it is full.
M5OD-R1 use ATF(automatic transmission fluid), yes ATF
Ford ATF
Yes it is hard to pour the oil in, lol.
Most auto parts stores sell small hand pumps that screw on to oil bottles or that have their own bottle that you can fill with oil, they will have a hose that fits in the FILL hole
They don't cost much
That is what you use to top off the fluid in trans if it is low.

You could also drain all the fluid and have a look at it, see if there are metal pieces in it.
Some is normal just fine particles, really a judgement call, larger pieces would be cause for concern.
Then refill with fresh ATF
It should take just under 3 quarts of ATF, 2.5-2.75, to refill

 

[Manger_95]

Awesome thank you, that gives me a little bit of relief, I'll be draining and replacing the fluid today after work, I hope that's what the problem is. Probably needs it anyways. I didn't even know manual transmissions took fluid! So it's probably never been done, oops. Might as well replace the Ujoints while I'm at it. I'll keep ya informed. Thanks again!

 

[Shran]

x2 on everything Ron said.

U-joints have always gone bad in a very short period of time in my experience. Had several that were fine one day and doing the squeak & grind the next morning.