I have a 2000 F-150 4.2L V6 w/5-speed. It's hard to shift into first. Example: I will put it in neutral while sitting at a traffic light. (Grandpa said to never sit on the clutch...never) When I put it back in gear at green, it is hard to go. Sometimes takes more than one try. No problems with other gears. Any suggestions?
I'm not a mechanic, but I'm guessing that with the clutch out it is shifting hard because the sychros take a little time to match the engine speed to allow the gears to engage. If you push the clutch in for a little while before you shift into 1st, does it still shift hard? Try it and let us know.
I've tried this before, it doesn't make any difference. I grew up on tractors, I thought it might be the syncros too. I also had a 5 speed ranger a few years back that had similar issues. I kinda figured it was common with ford manuals.
Hope you find the answer. I don't have any Fords with manual trannies at the point, so I can't give you first hand experience. I was just taking a stab at it.
If you have lots of miles on it the synchro's are probably worn and not slowing the gears down fast enough or at all.Try putting in a thicker oil.It woked great on mine(1990 f150 4x4 5spd m5od).It came with dexron in it and I went to 50 w synthetic.It wasn't too thick for the winter.And slowed the gears down faster.
Check your clutch to see if its getting to the point of needing to be changed. This is a pretty common question asked in the deisel forums from the ZF guys. A worn clutch won't quite take the pressure off the synchro in 1st to let it shift left or right to pop in gear, hense the force needed. Whats your clutchs thickness at?
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Steve
2004 F150 STX
1978 F-250 4X4
1987 F-250 4x4 VIRGINIA CHAPTER Virginia Chapter Website
You should be able to here the tranny gears coming to a stop in the case if you listen real close.If it doesn't come to a stop it's a clutch problem.Sometimes the release bearing is a better sound to listen for.Both should stop ,especially if it's cold ..the oil still thick.If it does come to a stop in a few secounds you have a synchro problem in first.Those mazda m5od tranny's have very weak synchro's in them.That's why I played with diffrent oil thicknesses until it would slow mine down just right.It turned out that 50w sythetic was perfect for summer and winter in my climate.(ontario ) Canada.
Trying changing the fluid. I had an 85 T-bird with BW T-5 transmission around 30k miles it got hard to shift into 1st gear, changed the fluid and the problem went away until around 65k miles which another fluid change and smooth shifting again.
My 93 Explorer w/M5OD did the same thing around 40k miles got really hard to shift into 1st gear when stopped. Changed the fluid and the problem went away.
I was told that teh friction modifier in the ATF fluid was getting depleted and the synchro was grabbing to quickly and locking the synchro to the gear hub and not allowing to slide the extra little bit to allow the gears/splines to line-up properly to slide completely into gear.
I changed the transmission fluid last Saturday. It is better, but not perfect. I was told at auto parts store that it is probably the slave cylinder in the clutch. Part is about $40. I would have to drop the tranny to fix it. I think I can live with it.
I changed the transmission fluid last Saturday. It is better, but not perfect. I was told at auto parts store that it is probably the slave cylinder in the clutch. Part is about $40. I would have to drop the tranny to fix it. I think I can live with it.
I just had the slave cylinder replaced in my 2002 F-150 with only 25,000 miles on the truck. And these were mostly hi-way miles . Ford wanted $1700+ to do the job ! A local tranny center that handles trucks wanted $1100. The dealer then put some pressure on Ford and I had to pay around $400, a $200 deductable and some clutch parts Ford would not pay for. And it would be silly not to change them since the tranny and clutch were already apart . On the bright side she shifts great now. My slave cylinder blew apart and I lost all the fluid and the truck was totally disabled. My 1989 with the same 5 speed had 3 slave clylinders replaced. They all developed the typical internal leak which caused the shifting into 1st to be more difficult and then finanlly just about impossible. Those cost between $500-$700 for repair at the dealer. Of course that was in the early and mid 1990's .
Wow Whimsey, that sounds like my problem. Thanks for the heads up on what a shop might charge. My folks live next to a mechanic that seems to think he is good with transmissions. I might have him give me an estimate.
94 150 I6 5 spd. I remember test driving these trucks when new in 94 and I thought they were a little too hard to shift. While stopped I shift into 4th gear and then back to 1st. I will try the 50w synthetic.
I have heard of some type of adustment at the shifter and the transmision.
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. Ford wanted $1700+ to do the job 
! A local tranny center that handles trucks wanted $1100. The dealer then put some pressure on Ford and I had to pay around $400, a $200 deductable and some clutch parts Ford would not pay for. And it would be silly not to change them since the tranny and clutch were already apart 
. On the bright side she shifts great now. My slave cylinder blew apart and I lost all the fluid and the truck was totally disabled. My 1989 with the same 5 speed had 3 slave clylinders replaced. They all developed the typical internal leak which caused the shifting into 1st to be more difficult and then finanlly just about impossible. Those cost between $500-$700 for repair at the dealer. Of course that was in the early and mid 1990's .
