2003 F150 manual shifting problems

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Apr 14, 2006 | 08:47 PM

maddog66

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2003 F150 manual shifting problems

2003 4.2 s/c 5speed 150... When I come to a full stop and try to shift into 1st
gear it just won't go... even trying 2nd is hard... It seems to work better when
the truck is moving alittle before shifting... problem since new, and a friend of
mine with a 03 also has the same problem. This problem is a hit and miss thing,
somedays it works great, others its a pain.....

Apr 14, 2006 | 08:56 PM

bigwobbely

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From: SANANTONIO, TX

WHEN I HAD MY 2002 W/ A STICK I HAD THE SAME PROBLEM! I TOOK IT BACK 2 THE DEALER NINE(9) times, each time i was told all was normal. well i just couldn't belive that so i called the customer service line directly 2 ford and they called my dealer and told them to do what ever it took 2 fix it. which happened 2 be: new clutch, throw-out bearing, master-cyl 4 the clutch, pressure plate. the dealer told me that"ALL U HAVE 2 DO IS PUT IT IN REVERSE, THEN IT WILL SLIDE INTO 1ST. i made them aware that all the u.s.a. might settle 4 that but i would not. after a week and a 1/2 i got my truck back and it shifted like BUTTER! but if u raise heck with the dealer u have to b nice and u will get want u want!! then a month later i traded it in!! good luck, thanks

Apr 15, 2006 | 04:47 AM

IB Tim

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Apr 15, 2006 | 10:31 AM

nedshead

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Joined: Dec 2005

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From: Steamboat Springs, CO

My 99' F150 4.6 has been like that since new. Doesn't always happen but putting into Reverse then 1st will let you get it into 1st. I've now got 107,000 miles and no problems. I figure it just shifts less smooth than most other vehicles - But doesn't seem to effect reliability. If replacing all the clutch parts in bigwobbely's truck made it shift like butter I'd wonder if it wasn't simply a clutch adjustment issue. I alway thought it was a porrly designed synchro system. Just my 2-cents.

Apr 15, 2006 | 08:18 PM

bigwobbely

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From: SANANTONIO, TX

hey nedshead, u are right about the clutch adjustment. i was telling the dealer the same thing. but they insisted that the clutches in these trucks were hydraulic and that there was no way 2 adjust them. i dont know much about clutches, but i found it hard 2 believe that there was no way 2 adjust it. thanks!!

Apr 15, 2006 | 11:25 PM

Racerguy

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Joined: Aug 2002

Posts: 12,679

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From: BC, Canada

The clutch really isn't adjustable on these. The hydraulic system constantly "adjusts" it like how disc brakes work. As wear happens the hydraulics just compensate.
Usually this problem is caused by air in the hydraulic system from a leaking slave cylinder or bad master cylinder, warped fingers on the pressure plate or the belleville springs in the clutch disc are warped which makes the disc linings spring apart as it releases or sometimes you'll have a sticky pilot bearing which makes the input shaft of the transmission turn when you depress the clutch.