Hey all. Thanks in advance for the help. Just a few basic questions:

1) I've got a '97 XLT Ranger w/ 2.3L and 5spd manual. What exactly does a slipping clutch feel like? I really only notice it when starting from a dead-stop, but something in the clutch pedal just doesn't feel quite right. Like I'm letting the pedal out, but it isn't grabbing as much as it should. And then I get it out far enough and it grabs rather suddenly. From what I know, it sounds like this is the definition of a slipping clutch, but I'm in denial! I first noticed this maybe 6 months ago, but it has definitely gotten worse since then. Also, it seems to come and go because sometimes the thing feels fine. If it is a bad clutch, any estimate of what it might cost to replace (or fix)?

2) A friend told me that in trucks like mine, you can shift gears without using the clutch. I tried it out (basically just yank the thing out of gear, apply steady pressure into the gear you're trying to get into, and when the RPMs are right it just pops in). It works great (no grinding or anything), but is this in any way bad for the transmission? Is it bad for the transmission to simply pull it out of gear into neutral without using the clutch?

3) When I shift into reverse, the gears will grind unless I am absolutely 100% stopped. Is this also a sign of a bad clutch, or simply normal?

Thanks for all the help!!

 

1) Typically a failing (slipping) clutch will result in the engine reving when you press on the gas and are in gear driving. It only get's worse until one day, out of the blue, you will go to drive and you will have basically no clutch.

2) Shifting without using the clutch is hard on the tranny and in particular the syncros. Generally, shifting into neutral when driving and without using the clutch is not desireable as it can promote tranny wear. I'd only shift without using the clutch in an emergency, such as if the hydraulics on the clutch system failed. To be honest, this not using the clutch thing is not going to impress anyone except the guy selling you tranny parts and/or rebuilding the tranny. He'll be impressed alright, but not in the way a person would want to impress someone . Why in the world would a guy not want to use the clutch?

3) Normal. Reverse is not syncronized and you need to be stopped. Even if it were an automatic you would want to stop; shifting into reverse when moving slightly only adds more wear to the tranny.

 

Cool, thanks for the help! I guess my question now would be, "Does the 2.3L actually have enough power to make the clutch slip while in gear?" I guess it does if you have a bad clutch, duh!


Well I'll have to try that out and see what I get. I haven't noticed anything like that so far, so it's probably ok. And, with my (recently installed) tach, it'll make it easy to see if there's any slippage going on!

Any idea, though, why the clutch feels funny now? It just doesn't feel like it's grabbing 1st gear quite right when I'm starting up ...

Thanks again!
Nick

 

Yes, the 2.3 will do it and in the early stages it should be more evident; a low gear with your foot into it should tell you if it's slipping. With a tach you will see the engine rev. I'm not sure on the funny feel; maybe an oil leak and the clutch disc is contaminated. On the other hand, there is a chance the springs on the pressure plate are weak. Usually that happens due to abuse, namely bad driving habits (using the clutch for a brake on a hill when stopped; slow release of clutch from a stop with engine reved up, not releasing the clutch promptly between gears when driving) resulting in lots of heat due to slippage.

 

Put it in high gear (facing away from anything) and with the parking brake on release
the clutch while feeding gas. If the engine stalls the clutch isn't slipping. Your problem
sounds a bit to me like a problem with the clutch hydraulic system not working correctly.