transmission problem help!

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Oct 3, 2007 | 08:14 PM

sinnedam

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Joined: Sep 2007

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transmission problem help!

Hey guys,

I will try and describe this issue as best i can.

i have a 2004 ranger xlt with the 4.0 mated to a 5 speed tranny.

truck has 50K miles on it.

I will try to give you a scenario to describe the issue.

Lets say you are parked, and you hop in the truck, and fire it up. in a manual this involves pushing in the clutch and turning the key. Next you go to put the truck in reverse to back out of the parking spot. well the problem is, the truck wont take gear. Once you pull it out of gear its extremely hard to get it to go back in. There is no grinding, its just like nothing is there. Eventually, it will slip right in as normal, but it takes like 2-3 minutes of banging around on the stick. Also you can turn the key off, and boom it slips right in. Now, the weird thing is, if you are going down the road and shifting gears, the problem is virtually non existent. it only appears to be an issue if the truck is not in motion and you try to shift gears like from first to reverse, or first to any other gear for that matter.

Hope you guys have some advice cause im out of ideas.

Oct 3, 2007 | 08:26 PM

fordfaninIL.

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 363

Likes: 2

From: east dubuque, il.

The slave cylinder in these trannies are known to leak causing many of the symptoms you are having. Crawl under the truck and see if it is wet around the bottom of the bell housing. Something else to try is to pump the clutch a couple of times. Absolutely do not force the stick shift, you can damage the tranny. I just pulled a tranny out of a 93 Ford ranger today with the exact same problem you are having, only he ruined the tranny by forcing it into gear.

Oct 3, 2007 | 08:45 PM

sinnedam

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Quote:

Originally Posted by fordfaninIL.

well, i wont lie, i have gotten angry, and forced it in a few times, but not regularly. I will check for the leak tomorrow in the daylight. How much am i looking at to get this replaced?

Oct 3, 2007 | 08:55 PM

fordfaninIL.

Senior User

Joined: Aug 2006

Posts: 363

Likes: 2

From: east dubuque, il.

The cost is hard to say, it depends on where you live. If you go through all of the trouble to replace the slave you will want to look closely at the clutch. I would say that $500 should go along way.

Oct 4, 2007 | 11:01 AM

BSmitty

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Joined: Jan 2004

Posts: 537

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From: Yes

Check the fluid reservoir to see if it is low. You may be able to get it to work better by simply adding fluid, but if it's low, you'll end up replacing something. If you do find it is low, pull the plug on the side of the bellhousing and look for moisture. A very small amount is allright, it it is wet, you're loosing your fluid out the slave. I did a slave/clutch kit myself over a weekend for about $250, but components for you truck will probably cost more, mine was older, and I get a pretty healthy discount at my parts store (they love to see me coming, ugh).

Oct 4, 2007 | 07:14 PM

77300i6

Posting Guru

Joined: Apr 2004

Posts: 1,127

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From: Lewistown, PA

I got the exact same problem as the OP. Tonight I just bled the clutch to see if that would take care of the problem-no go.

The tranny only acts up if I take it out of gear (like at a stop light), then I have to fight it (no forcing) to get back in gear.

I guess it looks like a slave cylinder/clutch for me