Ok and thanks in advance. I bought this 96 ranger 3 years ago with 123K on it, it now has 160K. When I first got it I swapped out the trans fluid ( which is ATF ) and put amsoil motor oil in there and it shifted SO SMOOTH. I loved shifting it. Well soon after that I had to put a new clutch. Well when the shop put the new clutch in they changed out the fluid again and put ATF back in. Well I left it in there for a long time. It shifted good after the new clutch but never did shift as smooth as when I had the old clutch and the Amsoil motor oil 5W30 ( which is almost the same viscosity as thick ATF ). Well now 3 yrs later it is not going into 1rst smoothly. Sometime it wont go in at all. Sometimes I will have to turn the car off and put it into 1rst and then restart the car. Its only been that bad a couple times. It will always go smoothly into 1rst if im at a SLOW rolling stop. It shifts fine other than that. No problem going into reverse. However sometimes it just wont go into any gear at all. And sometimes when it does that It will just take a little momentum and then it will go into gear. Sometimes if I just move the gear shift around it will go into gear more smoothly. This does not happen when the truck is just started and is cold. I talked to one mechanic and he said it could be just air in the hydraulics or it could be a bearing in the transmission itself. What do you guys think? Has this happened to you guys? Thanks for any help. Oh I have since tried the amsoil MTF and it helped but not very much.
manual not going smooth into 1rst
- Thread starter mcrn
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ATFs typically have a 100C viscosity of about 7-8 cSt. 5w30 is substantially thicker with a CSt of about 10.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
Likewise, Amsoil MTF is substantially thicker, too, similar to a 5w30.
I suspect the thicker fluids have been masking a mechanical problem in the tranny.
http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/visc.html
Likewise, Amsoil MTF is substantially thicker, too, similar to a 5w30.
I suspect the thicker fluids have been masking a mechanical problem in the tranny.
try shifting into 2nd before going into 1st. it's a habit I've developed and really helps make shifting into first easier.
the synchro is bad on the 1st gear ring...either that or the retaining ring is broken too. I doubt its the fluid if you only find it difficult in one particular gear. but the fluid is the easiest and cheapest way to do the process of elimination.
If the syncro's are bad, would you not hear the famous grinding noise usually associated with them?
My 04 Tacoma and my 03 Matrix have always had issues with reverse and sometimes 1st. The Matrix pretty much won't let you downshift into 1st unless you're stopped.
Double clutching sometimes helps fix the problem although it's a hassle.
My 04 Tacoma and my 03 Matrix have always had issues with reverse and sometimes 1st. The Matrix pretty much won't let you downshift into 1st unless you're stopped.
Double clutching sometimes helps fix the problem although it's a hassle.
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First place I'd look is the hydraulic slave/master cylinder ..but you still have a twitch or two where that wouldn't add up. Unless you've cycled your foot on the clutch (effectively "pumped it") then there would be no reason for the situation to be relieved by just wiggling the shifter around a bit.
Thanks again! Ok I am on the same mind set with the hydraulics. At least eliminate that first, I will do a bleeding of the system to see if that helps first however unfortunately for me whoever designed this transmission was SO smart that they put the slave cylinder in the trans so in order to get to it you have to remove the trans
BRILLIANT. Thanks again everyone. I still appreciate any advice and thanks in advance!
Really sounds like clutch is getting weak. Where does it engage/disengage? at top of travel or bottom?
Bob
Bob
Maybe the problem is your trying to shift a manual transmission. Maybe you need to learn "stick". Seriously, I don't understand. Why was there ATF in a manual transmission, or, am I misunderstanding? I would expect problems if a manual transmission had ATF.
Many manual transmissions spec ATF including many years of 1990s Ford light trucks.
Yes, All the tremec transmissions spec ATF. I have the same tranny that comes in your ford ranger, the T5, in my camaro V6. 1st gear is a mother of a thing to get into.... however here's some tips that helped me with my transmission.
1. Switch to MTFGlide from specialty lubricants, this has helped me more than anything so far.
2. When going into 1st, go into 2nd first as you downshift sequentially through the gears. If you're at a complete STOP and can't push the pedal in and move to 1st, try 3rd, then 1st... this stops the transmission properly using the 3rd gear stronger syncro.
3. Check to make sure your clutch is fully disengauging the next time you have the rearend up on jack stands by depressing the clutch and shifting into 1st and seeing if the tires will turn the least bit.
Mine is a lot better now that I sequentially downshift. One of these days though I will have to rebuild it, even though its only got 46000 miles on it.
1. Switch to MTFGlide from specialty lubricants, this has helped me more than anything so far.
2. When going into 1st, go into 2nd first as you downshift sequentially through the gears. If you're at a complete STOP and can't push the pedal in and move to 1st, try 3rd, then 1st... this stops the transmission properly using the 3rd gear stronger syncro.
3. Check to make sure your clutch is fully disengauging the next time you have the rearend up on jack stands by depressing the clutch and shifting into 1st and seeing if the tires will turn the least bit.
Mine is a lot better now that I sequentially downshift. One of these days though I will have to rebuild it, even though its only got 46000 miles on it.
Blazer be right about the 1st gear. MRCN, replace the hydraulic slave. My 92 Hyundai was in the same pickle, but not as severe. When the clutch doesn't dis-engage fully, all the kings horses won't put the thing in 1st. In many vehicles, sychronized shifts at a "matched" engine/tranny speed don't even need the clutch. Pennzoil synchro-mesh is a pretty good fluid for the sticky and stubborn.
Check the line. Not sure if they connect the slave to the reservoir (and either of these two can fail, not just the slave) with a steel line, and rubber line, or a combo of the two. The rubber can balloon on you if it's old, which your is at 10 years and thousands upon thousands of shifts. I assume there's no air in the system, you've bled it, right?
The other issue is the pressure plate. Did they replace it when they did the the new clutch? The splines get flimsy with time, crack or break, and contribute to the problem too.
Unfortunately, much as I like manual trannies and only have owned 5 speeds in the foreign-born roller skates I drive, Ford trucks may be the one vehicle I'd buy the auto over the manual if the decision hinged on dependability. We always got better service out of the overdrive 4 speed autos than the 5-speeds in the telephone service bizz I used to work for.
Good luck.
Check the line. Not sure if they connect the slave to the reservoir (and either of these two can fail, not just the slave) with a steel line, and rubber line, or a combo of the two. The rubber can balloon on you if it's old, which your is at 10 years and thousands upon thousands of shifts. I assume there's no air in the system, you've bled it, right?
The other issue is the pressure plate. Did they replace it when they did the the new clutch? The splines get flimsy with time, crack or break, and contribute to the problem too.
Unfortunately, much as I like manual trannies and only have owned 5 speeds in the foreign-born roller skates I drive, Ford trucks may be the one vehicle I'd buy the auto over the manual if the decision hinged on dependability. We always got better service out of the overdrive 4 speed autos than the 5-speeds in the telephone service bizz I used to work for.
Good luck.
Redline D4 ATF has high antiwear, well above most ATF's. Specialty Formulations has some good tranny fluid for ATF spec'ed trannies, which I believe also has high antiwear like Redline. Ask MolaKule. I've run both in my '95 F150 manual trannie.
Sometimes if you push the clutch in all the way and slightly rev the engine...it will usually shift into 1st gear very easily.
All Mercedes ZF manual tranny incuding those on older OM616/617 or W123/124 as well as the six speed newer ones specify ATF, even their buses and trucks do so as well, the ones with ZF. I use ATF albeit reluctantly and change at 10,000KM due to the heat factor here. Would rather see gear or engine oil, looking at ATF just doesn't inspire.
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