About 3 years ago the Ford dealer replaced the slave drive in my 1996 5.0 Bronco because my clutch was increasingly difficult to engage the gears. The difficulty started with 1st, then 2nd, then eventually all the other gears. The repair seemed to correct the problem. However, 1 year ago I started having the same problem but this time I took it to several clutch specialists who could not agree if this was a clutch or transmission problem. Eventually, the clutch quit working and I had a new clutch assembly installed. The new clutch worked well for about two months but then began having some difficulty shifting into gears, mainly 1st and 2nd. So, I went back to the repair shop who insistd that it was transmission problems. However, the repair shop agreed to consider another clutch repair shop's diagnosis that it was a clutch problem and not a transmission issue because with the engine turned off, the truck shifts into any gear without depressing the clutch pedal. So, the repair shop once again did a complete clutch repair (whatever that means). And again, for two months it shifted smooth but then evntually started getting stuck in 1st or 2nd, although not extremely hard. I can drive without difficulty but when I'm at a stop sign and am in neutral I have to play around with the stick shift to get it into gear. The same goes for second gear. It does not seem to be getting worse. Does anyone have any idea what could be the problem?

 

50-50 shot at this.Next time it acts up at stop light/sign,see if you can put in 3 rd. and then in 1 st. if it goes into 1 st. easier, would think trans. prob. other wise would lean towards clutch. Most likely weak pressure plate. You could try bleeding system and see if it helps.Nothing to loose.

 

How many miles? When's the last time the tranny fluid was changed? I'm thinking either worn synchros, or badly deteriorated fluid. Put some synthethic ATF in it, I bet it will make a huge improvement.

 

Thanks Guys.

My 96 Bronco has 144,000 and I am the original owner. I tried, as suggested, putting it in 3rd then in 1st while at a stop and, as guessed, getting it into 1st became easier. Then I had the transmission fluid changed and it became 80% improved. The shifting doesn't stick as much but there is still a slight sticking when initially shifting into first. Anyway, the fluid change helped greatly. Thanks guys.

 

I would suspect either worn synchros or warn/sticking shift linkage.

The synchros are what speed up the shafts in the tranny to match the speeds of the gears. Its complicated, but when the synchros get worn, this is the result. Here is a little test, as you are coming up to a stop, push the clutch in and start to press the shifter into first. As you are about to stop, the shifter should fall or almost be pulled into the gate. If it works without grinding, your synchros are probably OK. The only way to be totally sure is to open the tranny and look.

Shift linkage could also be binding or getting old. Look at that too.