Trans. problems inquiry...
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Posting Guru
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From: Panama City, Fl
Trans. problems inquiry...
I did the search with so many "other" posts coming up that I gave up. What I am looking for is info from those that have had manual tranny problems in the '96 vintage Rangers. (Mine is a '96 4X4, 3.0, 5 speed Reg. Cab. short box with one rollover to its credit) What kind of problems? Not clutch problems but true transmission problems. I keep reading about how bad they are but I have no problems at 88,000 miles and would like to hear true accounts from those that have been there so I know what to look for. Thanks.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
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From: Virginia
Sorry I can't help with your year trans. If it is anything like the one I have in my 88' 4x2 5sp, then I could warn you about a few things. Is it the Mazda trans? Mine didn't bite the dust until around 113k, with lots of chunks in the oil pan. 
Freshman User
Joined: Jun 2004
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Well, I had a 95 4.0 4x4, 98 4.0 4x4, and now a 03 4.0 4x4. All with manual trannies. All of them were bulletproof (and I tested them 
). The manual tranny problems in Rangers are overplayed. Truth is, Ford does far more warranty/repair work on the auto's than anything. There are always going to be a few loud-mouths that have problems and proclaim them junk, meanwhile the rest of us just quietly beat the crap out of them with no problems.
). The manual tranny problems in Rangers are overplayed. Truth is, Ford does far more warranty/repair work on the auto's than anything. There are always going to be a few loud-mouths that have problems and proclaim them junk, meanwhile the rest of us just quietly beat the crap out of them with no problems.
Last edited by RedRangerXLT; Jul 15, 2004 at 07:27 PM.
Cargo Master
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 2,414
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From: Tucson USA
Pete dont know about your 96, but there are/were problems with the top plugs blowing oil out and the mainshaft and first gear burning up and making noises. When I bought mine (94, 4.0) it had the noise and I thought it was a throwout bearing, when I drained the oil to pull the trans to check out came chunks of gear and bearing cage. $900 later it was fixed. Other problem is with the pilot bearing, very small and easy to damage during install allows the mainshaft to wobble and leads to internal problems. These are first hand knowledge but I have read of them on several of these boards that are ranger related. The problem with the plugs also occurs on the bigger fords according to the guy who rebuilt mine. Also I had the OD (5th) go out, guy said if you run in OD a lot and let the engine lug it causes it to wear rapidly. Mine went out about 30K after the initial repair, another $750 and my time to repair.
Stop by when ya come to town, one of these days we will try to get up to the unicorn to visit.
Hank in Tucson
Stop by when ya come to town, one of these days we will try to get up to the unicorn to visit.
Hank in Tucson
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,436
Likes: 117
From: Virginia
Hank85713 - Sounds exactly like what mine did. And AKranger, that is how it started. These are WELL documented problems with the MAZDA transmissions. The rubber plugs are a BIG weekness, as are the bearings.
But I guess since SOME people have never had an issue, it makes the rest of us "loud-mouths". RedRangerXLT - Dude, who are you to call everyone who has suffered these KNOWN 5sp problems names? With thousands of cases of documented issues that you chose to ignore, I would suggest you think first before making comments like that one.
AzPete - Good luck with yours. Things to watch out for if you have a trany with those rubber plugs are: trans loosing fluid, gets real hot, grinds going into 3rd, exessive noise while in gear, and fluid/dirt all over the rear 1/3rd of the trans. Change your fluid every year or so depending on miles (it's cheap), and keep an eye out for these signs. Also, if you are changing anything clutch related where you drop the trans...... go to Ford or a transmission shop, and get the "small parts kit" that replaces the rubber plugs with metal ones + sealant. These parts kits are widley available since EVERY transmission shop as well as FORD!, are aware of this "defect".
But I guess since SOME people have never had an issue, it makes the rest of us "loud-mouths". RedRangerXLT - Dude, who are you to call everyone who has suffered these KNOWN 5sp problems names? With thousands of cases of documented issues that you chose to ignore, I would suggest you think first before making comments like that one.
AzPete - Good luck with yours. Things to watch out for if you have a trany with those rubber plugs are: trans loosing fluid, gets real hot, grinds going into 3rd, exessive noise while in gear, and fluid/dirt all over the rear 1/3rd of the trans. Change your fluid every year or so depending on miles (it's cheap), and keep an eye out for these signs. Also, if you are changing anything clutch related where you drop the trans...... go to Ford or a transmission shop, and get the "small parts kit" that replaces the rubber plugs with metal ones + sealant. These parts kits are widley available since EVERY transmission shop as well as FORD!, are aware of this "defect".
Post Fiend
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From: Connecticut
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New User
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Seattle
96 xlt supercab 4x4 with 4.0. Just had to replace tranny and torque converter. I
have had it slip a couple times in past, but never anything major then one day crossing
the floating bridge I just lost everything. Was like I slipped it into neutral. I was able
to shift to 2 and I got off the first exit I came to, then that too was gone. No forward
or reverse gears. Ended up dropping 3k into it and did a valve body upgrade while we
were working on it all. I have 120k miles on it and I carry a lot of heavy loads, a lot of
highway miles. Ah also did not notice you were asking about manuals,
mines auto.
have had it slip a couple times in past, but never anything major then one day crossing
the floating bridge I just lost everything. Was like I slipped it into neutral. I was able
to shift to 2 and I got off the first exit I came to, then that too was gone. No forward
or reverse gears. Ended up dropping 3k into it and did a valve body upgrade while we
were working on it all. I have 120k miles on it and I carry a lot of heavy loads, a lot of
highway miles. Ah also did not notice you were asking about manuals,
mines auto.
Last edited by jhereg; Jul 16, 2004 at 07:00 PM. Reason: add info
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