I just got back from a 2 hour trip down the interstate in my manual transmission 97 ranger. When I got off of the interstate I took the truck out of gear to stop at a redlight. When I tried to go again I couldn't get it into gear. I finally got it into reverse and pulled it off of the road. Then, after sitting in one place for awhile I finally got it into 4th and then 3rd. Finally I got it into forst though it was hard. I then drove a little and gear shifting got progressively easier though it was still pretty hard. Does anyone have an idea of what it could be?

 

How's the clutch fluid and tranny fluid?

 

Last I checked, they were both full. I have problems like this now and then and everytime I check the fluids they are full. I even chaged the tranny fluid once just to be sure that wasn't the problem.

 

quick question - when you finally got it into reverse, did it crunch? If so then your clutch is not disengaging when hot. There are no synchros on reverse so this is the gear that tells you your clutch isn't disengaging fully. For the other gears they are just hard to shift - as you've experienced.

 

It did crunch come to think about it. COuld this mean my master cylinder is bad or maybe the system needs to be bled?

 

Could be either - a bad clutch master cyl, or it needs to be bled. If the slave cylinder were bad I'd expect you to be losing fluid.

Does the clutch pedal feel any different? (spongey?)

 

The slave is the more likely of the two to go, but it would dump fluid if it did. I echo probe, does the pedal feel differently?

 

I haven't noticed a difference in the pedal. I drive the truck so much that if a difference developed over a long time then I probably wouldn't notice it. I do have to rev the engine up higher than normal before I let off the clutch to get it to go. Some people wonder what I am doing when I rev it up that high but it is the only way to get the truck moving without letting it die.

 

I suspect once of the cylinders. Having to rev it higher makes it sound like it's just dropping on basically. Does it idle lower? Seems like the clutch might be dragging as well.

 

Have you always had to rev it higher than normal to get it moving? My 4-cyl is a bit tough to launch, too, but I attribute that to a heavy vehicle with a tiny engine. If it has developed over time, I'd be inclined to think it is a separate problem from the shifting.
As far as the shifting problem, is it hard to shift into first at stoplights? That is a common symptom of the clutch not releasing, too.

 

It's only hard to shift when I've been driving for a while without shifting. Having to rev it up has developed over time. I remember when I first bought the truck I could get it to go in 1st without even touching the gas pedal.

 

When my truck is in gear and I'm driving at a constant speed, if I give it enough gas to accelerate hard the truck jerks forward. Usually this happens a few times and then when I let off of the gas it stops. Also when I rev it up to get it going from a stop it jerks.

 

That strikes me as the clutch slipping. Engaging, disengaging, engaging, you get the point. Oftentimes it will slip if you gun it in a high gear, such as 5th right at 45 or so, the clutch will just let go, even brand new ones, especially on the 4.0Ls.

It shouldn't do it in just regular driving though.

 

Quote from the Haynes Manual:
To check for complete clutch release, run the engine with the parking brake engaged and hold the pedal 1/2 inch from the floor. Try shifting the trans between 1st and Reverse. If the shift is hard or noise is heard, you have a problem. Check the throwout bearing travel, or try bleeding the clutch cylinder. BTW, how many miles on the clutch? Also check the type of fluid that has been put in the tranny. My 97 uses ATF, not gear oil, and needs to be chaged more often.

 

It should be ATF. My '94 uses it as well.

That's a good procedure, sometimes works sometimes doesn't. Don't throw it from 1st to Reverse, do it as you would a normal shift. Too fast and it can grind no matter what. Remember there ain't synchros on Reverse.