STANLEY G. PERKINS
I'M JUST ABOUT TO CRY. MY RANGERS TRANSMISSION WENT OUT TODAY. IT'S BEEN GIVING ME PROBLEMS FOR A WHILE. IT FIRST STARTED OUT WITH 2ND GEAR GOING OUT BACK IN THE SUMMER. AND FINALLY IT WENT TODAY. I WAS GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55MPH AND THE TRUCK ENGINE STARTED REVING REALLY HIGH. THEN IT WOULD GO ON NORMAL. I TRIED DOWN SHIFTING AND GETTING OUT OF TRAFFIC, BUT IT DIDN'T WANT TO COME OUT OF 5TH. FINALLY IT DID COME OUT, AND THEN IT DIDN'T WANT TO GO INTO ANY GEAR. I WAS TOWED BACK TO WHERE AT. AND NOW I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. IF ANYONE HAS ANY INPUT, PLEASE RESPOND. IT'S MY FIRST VEHICLE AND I'VE HAD A LOT OF FUN IN IT.

 

HELLO,I AM JUST A SHADE TREE BUT HERE IS WHAT I WOULD CHECK. YOU SAID 2ND GEAR WENT OUT. IS IT A PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET IT INTO 2ND ,OR COULD YOU GET IT INTO GEAR AND IT WOULD NOT PULL?YOU SAID IT BECAME STUCK IN 5TH GEAR BUT YOU WERE ABLE TO GET IT OUT.I WOULD CHECK THE LINKAGE AT THE TRANNY,MAYBE A PROBLEM WITH THE CLUCTH OR THROWOUT BERING.ALSO DOES YOUR MODEL HAVE A HYDROLIC CLUTCH.THE FLUID MAY BE LOW I.E. A LEAK IN THE LINE.HOPE THIS HELPS..

 

STANLEY G. PERKINS
WHEN I SAY 2ND GEAR WENT OUT, I MEAN THAT IT WOULDN'T GO INTO GEAR AT ALL, AND ALL IT WOULD DO WHEN ATTEMPTED IS GRIND. I HAVE A HYDRALIC CLUTH. I WORK AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THE CLUTH AND TRANNY WERE GONE. A MECHANIC SAID HE WOULD PUT A TRANNY AND CLUTCH IN FOR 1,000.00 AND WITH A 30 DAY WARRANY. HOW DOES THAT SOUND?

 

I WOULD CALL AROUND ON PRICING.MOST OF THE GARAGES AROUND HERE(HOUSTON AREA)WILL GIVE FREE TOWING IF THEY DO THE WORK.IF PRICING ABOUT THE SAME AND YOU KNOW THIS MECH.AND TRUST HIM THE PIECE OF MIND IS GREAT.I WOULD THINK FOR 1000.00 YOU WOULD GET MORE THAN A 30 DAY WARRANTY.GOOD LUCK..

 

STANLEY G. PERKINS
WELL, THE TRANNY JOB WOULD BE A SIDE JOB FOR THE MECHANIC. THE TRANNY WILL COST ME 500.00 AND THE CLUTCH WILL COST ME ABOUT 200.00. AND THE LABOR AND PARTS TOTAL WILL BE $1000.00. THE TRANNY WILL BE FROM A PARTS DEALER. DO YOU RECOMMENED A REMANUFACTURED OR USED TRANNY? I CHECKED INTO THE REMANUFACTORED TRANNY'S AND THEY COST 1495.00 WITH NO WARRANY.

 

I DO KNOW PEOPLE WHO BOUGHT A USED TRANNY AND HAD LUCK.ONE GUY HAD IT TESTED BEFORE HE PAID TO INSTALL IT.I SEARCHED AND FOUND ENGINE-TRANSMISSION.COM WHO WILL SHIP AND GIVE A 12 MONTH WARRANTY AND ALSO HAS A RIDER THAT WILL PAY FOR ALL/PART OF THE REINSTALL IT IT FAILS. I WOULD SEARCH THE WEB OR CALL AROUND A LITTLE MORE.GUESS IT DEPENDS ON HOW QUICK YOU NEED THE TRUCK BACK BUT IF IT COST A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS MORE AND YOU CAN AFFORD IT,AS I KNOW THIS WAS NOT A PLANNED EXPENCE,IT MAY BE WORTH THE WARRENTY.BEST OF LUCK

 

I have a 98 that started grinding on the 2-3 shift at about 55,000 miles. My extended warranty was due to expire at 58,000. I took it to the dealer that sold it to me and he jacked me around about a clutch job. Misdiagnosis. I had a bad bushing.
The shop that fixed it is Mr. Tranmission. I'm located in Charlotte, NC, but they are a nationwide chain. The guys at the Charlotte shop not only made the right diagnosis, but fought like heck to get the warranty company to honor the contract. I can't vouch for the other branches, but if these guys are representative of the company, I'm impressed.
They don't swap out used transmissions. they'll tear yours down and rebuild, replacing damaged parts as needed.
Hope this helps.
CB

 

You didn't specify engine size so I don't know if this applies but it does for the bigger engined transmissions. The early ford 5 speeds have 3 plastic plugs upin the rear of the shifter box that deteriorate with time and eventually leak all the fluid out, resulting in toasted mainshafts and gears. had mine done last year $900 and I pulled and replaced the transmission. A clutch system without slave cylinder will run close to $200, a slave cylinder about $75, a master cylinder another $75. This all on 94 4.0.

A bad hydralic system will do as you indicate, not release but grind going into gear. If its bad you should still be able to shift without a clutch just by speed shifting it. If stopped use the starter to get moving in first gear.

A wornout clutch disk, pressure plate will also cause hard shifting and a problem with some is that the main shaft seizes/sticks in the pilot bushing and even if the clutch is good will not allow for shifting as it keeps the transmission engaged.

So it sounds as if you will need to R&R the clutch system 1st of all at a minimum. you will need to determine if the plastic plugs (if appropriate) are present and then have them replaced with metal plugs.
Have the trans looked at internally (you will have to pull to save some $$) and by more than 1 shop to know if the trans is in need of rebuild. The $1400 rebuild price is about right but if from a reputable shop should have at a minimum 6 mo warrantee. The shade tree prices seem a little low for all the above!

Just my thoughts based on recent experience.