1992 Manual Trans Problem
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1992 Manual Trans Problem
I have a 1992 Explorer XLT with a 5 speed manual trans. The tranny has about 100,000 miles on it and about a week ago, I was cruising along the highway at about 85mph when it suddenly dropped out of 5th gear. Now, it won't stay in 5th at all on its own and if I try to hold it in gear, it pushes back really hard. All of the other gears work fine. The clutch is only a year old (less than 10,000 miles) and I have no idea what could be the problem. My mechanic says he can't figure it out without taking the trans out and, as a broke college student, I can't afford that. I'm wondering if anyone knows what might be the problem and if its possible to fix it cheaply. Thanks.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Near Hemet, CA
All 3 of my Explorers have automatics but I did have a Datsun 510 a while back that had the same problem--it would jump out of gear and I'd have to hold the shift lever in place. It turned out to be a worn pilot bushing on the transmission. The part only cost $1 but of course the driveshaft and trans had to be removed. Does it make any funny noises while driving? I don't think mine did but, if I recall correctly, a bad pilot bushing will make noise when the clutch is disengaged (pedal pushed in) and a bad throwout bearing will make noise when it's engaged. Hopefully someone will either verify this or condemn me to hell for misinformation.
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From: Phoenix
Ulysses - if you ever try to compare a Ford Explorer to a Datsun again I'm going to drive out to California and drive my Explorer right over yours.
The M5OD mazda (onlt Japanese relation here) tranny has a litle adjustment bolt for the 5th/reverse gear alignment. If it breaks of otherwise comes loose, the truck wont stay in gear. You need to drop the tranny bud! This is not a complete rebuild. You can fix it yourself. But...with 100K on it...you should really replace the synchros and main bearings which is really a rebuild at that point.
The M5OD mazda (onlt Japanese relation here) tranny has a litle adjustment bolt for the 5th/reverse gear alignment. If it breaks of otherwise comes loose, the truck wont stay in gear. You need to drop the tranny bud! This is not a complete rebuild. You can fix it yourself. But...with 100K on it...you should really replace the synchros and main bearings which is really a rebuild at that point.
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From: Near Hemet, CA
What if I'd said Mitsubishi instead of Datsun? 
I hope you are right for OP's sake.
At least on the Datsun if the part was not available you could probably go to the hardware store and get a piece of copper plumbing pipe, cut it with a hack saw and hammer in on there and it would probably work. Some toilet parts probably work on Datsun's too, particularly on the emissions controls.
Meanwhile, back at the subject: Ford says other (inexpensive to repair) possible reasons for the transmission popping out of gear could be loose bolts where the transmission mounts to the engine or loose shift levers.
I hope you are right for OP's sake.
At least on the Datsun if the part was not available you could probably go to the hardware store and get a piece of copper plumbing pipe, cut it with a hack saw and hammer in on there and it would probably work. Some toilet parts probably work on Datsun's too, particularly on the emissions controls.
Meanwhile, back at the subject: Ford says other (inexpensive to repair) possible reasons for the transmission popping out of gear could be loose bolts where the transmission mounts to the engine or loose shift levers.
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From: Phoenix
No. The mitsibishi trannys were only used in Rangers, not Explorers.
I had a 1974 Datsun 260 Z. Paid $500 for it in 1988. Drove it 5 years and put over 100K miles on it...basic maintenance and one new tranny. Traded it in on my Explorer. They gave me $100 for it! Bonus there as all I was wanting ws not having to deal with dispositioning it.
To get more ideas about the 5th gear problem post this in the tranny thread. I've just about exhausted my knowledge of M5OD's in what I've already stated.
I had a 1974 Datsun 260 Z. Paid $500 for it in 1988. Drove it 5 years and put over 100K miles on it...basic maintenance and one new tranny. Traded it in on my Explorer. They gave me $100 for it! Bonus there as all I was wanting ws not having to deal with dispositioning it.
To get more ideas about the 5th gear problem post this in the tranny thread. I've just about exhausted my knowledge of M5OD's in what I've already stated.
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Joined: Oct 2004
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From: Near Hemet, CA
I had (another) Datsun 510 that I paid $300 for, drove it for years and finally traded it in on a Toy pickup. They gave me $250 for it!!! It must have had around 400,000 miles on it when I got rid of it but the speedometer didn't work so I'm just guessing. The only problem I ever had (besides setting the two sets of points) was a bad U-joint in one of the front shafts.
Meanwhile I'll keep a sharp eye out for dark green or blue(?) Explorers with red license plates
Meanwhile I'll keep a sharp eye out for dark green or blue(?) Explorers with red license plates
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Mountain Pass
Joined: Sep 2004
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From: AZ
Run it in 4th gear from now on til the tranny won't go anymore, might save you some money and headache for now. The rpm's will go up but the 4.0 motor will hold up with no problems. It might run forever, you never know.
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