Has anyone had any problems with third gear? I have a 2002 Ranger FX4 with the 5 speed manual. Once in a while I have problems getting it into 3rd and I have had it pop out of gear once for no apparent reason. All other gears are fine...just having problems with third. Only 10K miles on this truck. Are the synchros bad? Any advice? Thanks in advance!

Angie
1979 Thunderbird
1982 Bronco
2002 Ranger

 

Ford uses a crappy manual in their rangers. Some people get lucky and have no problems with the manual but most have bad shifting.

Since you are still under warranty I would take it back and see what they say. Most likely they will tell you that is standard for the transmission. If they can't fix it, then complain until they replace the transmission.

 

I don't have any problems with my tranny other than I just had the clutch master cylinder replaced, the transfer case resealed due to a leak, and now the rear axle recall replacement. Any other problems with yours?

 

I don't have any other problems with the mechanical portion of the truck. The axle recall was quite a while ago and I actually had to wait to drive my truck off the dealer's lot until they swapped the axles. I just can't believe you could have so many problems with your truck. Have you thought about trading it in? I am already looking at the 2003 model. I really like the Sonic Blue color. My sales rep is checking into a few things for me regarding the 2003 FX4. As for problems other than mechanical: 1)the inside bottoms of the extended cab doors are not painted. I brought the truck into the dealer body shop and they told me this was normal. Apparently they primer the doors, put on one layer of paint, and then clearcoat. This is just on the inside of the extended cab doors at the very bottom. It's unnoticeable if your not looking for it. I found it when I was drying my truck after washing it at home. 2)The interior trim peice above the passenger door had a broken clip from day 1 causing the plastic to hang down. I didn't notice it when I picked up my truck because I did it later in the evening and it was dark. I noticed it the next day on my way to lunch. It is obviously covered under warranty, but it's such a hassle to try to get to the dealership during business hours. I work too! Anyways. I couldn't have my passenger window open because the wind would pull on the piece. I finally had it replaced last week. To make a long story short..first I had to bring my truck into the dealer body shop so they could look at what piece I was talking about and figure out the color, blah, blah, blah. then I had to wait a week for the part to come in. Finally I had to take the truck back to the dealer body shop to have it installed. The "20 minute" procedure to install actually took an hour. Waste of my time! Other than the two issues I have mentioned, the only other problem I am having is with 3rd gear (hence the original post). Sorry everyone for the long post, but I would still like to know if anyone else is having tranny problems with their 5 speed manual. Thanks!

Angie

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 09-Aug-02 AT 04:29 AM (EST)]I have a 2001 Ranger and if I don't push the clutch all the way to the floor some times it will grind going into 3rd. Do you have the clutch all the way down when it wont go in to gear? Just a idea.



1979 F-150 4x4 351M C-6 NP205
2001 Ranger XL

 

I own a 02" FX4 and the bottom of the ext. cab doors are painted. Its not normal, just another flaw in Ford's quality control. The doors are fiberglass, not metal, so there thought may be that they aren't going to rust??? Get something out of them, lifetime oil changes or whatever. Ford needs to wake up to the problems they oversee!!

 

Yes, I make sure the clutch is all the way pushed in. I have been very careful with this truck because it is my first "new" truck. Plus I have driven manuals for years. But, even if the clutch wasn't all the way pushed in, that still doesn't explain why it popped out of gear on me once. And it was not because it wasn't all the way in gear...it was. I'm just curious to know if anyone else is having the same problem.
As for the doors...I don't know what I am going to do. I can't figure out why the bottom inside of the front doors would be painted and not the back. I'm already thinking of trading the truck in, so maybe I'll let it be someone else's problem.
Thanks to everyone who has posted to my question. And again, I still want to know if anyone is having the same problem with their 5 speed manual in the FX4s.

Angie

 

98 Ranger 2.5 w/man trans
Had a problem going from 2nd to 3rd. But only from 2nd to 3rd. Dealer wanted to charge me for a clutch replacement (not covered under extended warranty) and I balked. Took it to a trans. shop and eventually got a proper diagnosis. Bad bearing. Fought like hell with the warranty company until they saw the light and authorised a transmission rebuild.
Never Give Up.
CB

 

Sorry, I should have been more specific. I am having problems going from 2nd to 3rd. I do not have problems downshifting form 4th to 3rd or in any other gear for that matter. I am in the process of finding the time to take the truck in to have it looked at. It was supposed to be done when it was at the dealer for the "body work", but they forgot and I didn't have time to wait around for their dumb asses. Wish me luck!
Just curious..how many miles on your truck before the tranny problem?

Angie

 

it is me once more, I have a 02 ranger "standard" 5 speed. I drive the truck like there is no tomaro.. I have like 5633 miles and I hit 7000rpm every 123 gear!!! I have a super chip that turns off the limiter... And I can only say one thing bad I blew the front left speaker. With my sony explod. cd player.

Robert.