When I am driving I always encounter this when I'm making the 2-3 shift. I always hear a grind when I push it up into 3rd.
I have tried everything... no foot on the gas, clutch to the floor, clutch barely disengaged, mixture of grass and clutch. The only thing that seems to work is letting rev's drop to a point where I'm practically losing speed. I can't afford to shift that all the time, I do need some acceleration.

Any help?

 

Do you have the practiced finesse to shift without the clutch? From time to time, I wind up driving a lot of different trucks. I can tell the ones with worn syncros just by the feel of the shifter. If you need to hone your talents in doing this, stick to the 3rd to 4th shift until you get the finesse down. You'll likely find it easier to catch the next gear with the rpms dropping. Also try down-shifting by gently increasing the rpms while applying pressure on the shifter. Gentle is a relative term to the particular vehicle.
And ... Welcome to the forum.

 

Haha.... I do like to powershift in my Ranger

But seriously... I do know how to drive a stick just fine. I also realize that this problem is because of me. The same thing happened with me on my previous car('89 Prelude). I did purchase the truck when it had 102k miles on it(still new to me...), could the previous driver be part of the problem?

I don't follow on some of the stuff you're saying. Not sure what you mean on the "stick to the 3rd to 4th shift until you get the finesse down" part. I'm a smooth driver, and it's just 2-3 where I have my problem. The other part is where you said, "while applying pressure on the shifter." I rev-match on all my downshifts in an effort to extend the life of my drivetrain. Apply pressure on the shifter? Wha?

Anymore help?

 

*cough*

 

I think deal was being serious with you, not giving you a hard time. Sounds like you have a worn syncro. Have you tried "double-clutching"? Unfortunately, the only fix is to tear-down the trans and replace the syncro.

 

This is covered on a TSB for transmissons builted before 11/1/1999, I just checked it on the Mitchell On Demand for Transmissions Service Manual. Basically all the 1998-2000 Rangers with a 5Spd M50D transmission have a bad 3-4 synchronizer if it was builted before the specified date and below the S/N on the table, and needs to be replaced, this cause a 2-3 grinding. Now if your transmission serial number is above these serial numbers, then you need to check further:

2.5l I-4 4X2 - tranny tag F87A - AB S/N less than D629756
3.0l V6 4X2 - tranny tag F87A - CA S/N less than D628220
3.0l V6 4X4 - tranny tag F87A - DA S/N less than D624514
4.0l V6 4X2 - tranny tag F87A - EA S/N less than D639401
4.0l V6 4X4 - tranny tag F87A - FA S/N less than D627480

Hope this info helps.

 

Thanks for the info guys... I knew deal was trying to help me, but I just didn't follow exactly what he was saying.

I thought double-clutching was mainly for downshifts? Will it help for upshifts too? Maybe after enough practice, it'll become second nature.

 

hey guys, I have the EXACT same problem with with my 2-3 shift, every other gear meshes like butter, except for the odd time the 2-3 shift. Ive gottten use to it, now and learned to deal with it, but if I find that my tranny falls under one of the serial numbers that Ranger95 gave, What can I do about it? Is ford obliged to fix it? When I originally bought the truck (used), I mentioned this problem , so he took it out for a test drive. and of course "everything was fine and he found nothing wrong . and gave me the impression that I should go back to smoking my crack.. any ideas?? thanx,
Jim

P.s. I will look for the serial number hopefully tomorrow...

 

Just a Quick Addition, where would I find the transmission serial number? i'm assuming it would be stamped somewhere on the outside.. just curious if anybody knows, Thanx, Jim

 

bump

 

*cough* Anybody??

 

At the door jamb

 

My gears only grind when my truck is warmed up. When it gets warm in cold weather, it doesn't seem to happen all that often, either.

I've tried double-clutching a couple times, and that hasn't helped the grinding.

 

Are we dealing w/ planned obsolesence hear w/ these plugs?

Should I be able to shift from 2nd into 1st w/ this F87A trans. while rolling a little w/ the clutch in? I'm wondering if the first two owners tried to force it to do this and screwed up the synchro.

I have a 2.5l I-4 4X2 - tranny tag F87A - S/N D644871.

My truck has a hard shift while shifting from 1 to 2, I think. I'm going to change the fluid and see what happens. I checked/looked at the three plugs and they seemed okay although I saw a little oil covering the rear of the transmission. I'm thinking maybe it might be a little low after 40K miles... and maybe the plugs are leaking a little at the bottom which I can't really see to varify.


P.S.
I drove a 74 PINTO 2300 4-spd w/ over 300K on the trans. and that trans. still worked great when the car was finally sold for junk. It was owned by my family it's whole life without changing the trans. fluid. You couldn't shift to first without stopping and/or a slow roll to a stop ..... and no one forced it too.

P.S.
Hoover makes a real crappy vacuum cleaner belt that stretches the minute it gets hot..... good for about 900 sq. ft. of vacuming... just replace it every other time... don't you own a screwdriver?