Mazda tranny, no 5th or reverse
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New User
Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Clinton US
Mazda tranny, no 5th or reverse
I have an 89 F150 302 4x4 with the Mazda 5 speed. I haven't had any problems with it but yesterday I tried to shift into 5th and it was if it didn't exist, didn't feel like the slot was even there. Later when I put it in reverse it would go but not fully engage. Any stress at all and it popped out. I pulled the top and can't see any problem. The shifter all works fine, but trying to put it in reverse using the inside lever has the same problem. My thought is something is jamming the gears or shifter fork. From what I can see the fork is ok. Can these parts be reached from the rear after removing the transfer case. Is there anything specific I should be looking for. Thanks.
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2002
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From: kansas
Mazda tranny, no 5th or reverse
This may or may not help.
I had a similar problem with 1-2 in my 1992 4.9 m5od. turned out the shifter fork had rubbed clean through and wasn't engaging at all. It was just slipping over. I know of two people locally who had the same problem with 5-r. The shifter fork only engages the synchro slider(?) by approx .150". This means that it's really easy to overlook. Even knowing that was a possiblity, I had problems seeing it. I suggest you take it back out and compare the pads on the ends of all the shifter forks to see if they have equal amounts of material.
Another thing to think about. All three cases were caused by a leak/lack of fluid from the little rubber plugs on the shifter plate. It would only leak while driving and was almost unnoticeable as a result. Do you have ATF on top of the trans? I believe this is a very common m50d problem. There's a tech article in here about replacing them. When I took my shifter plate to the trans shop for repair, they installed freeze plugs instead. I don't know if they had to machine out for them however.
Let us know how it turns out.
I had a similar problem with 1-2 in my 1992 4.9 m5od. turned out the shifter fork had rubbed clean through and wasn't engaging at all. It was just slipping over. I know of two people locally who had the same problem with 5-r. The shifter fork only engages the synchro slider(?) by approx .150". This means that it's really easy to overlook. Even knowing that was a possiblity, I had problems seeing it. I suggest you take it back out and compare the pads on the ends of all the shifter forks to see if they have equal amounts of material.
Another thing to think about. All three cases were caused by a leak/lack of fluid from the little rubber plugs on the shifter plate. It would only leak while driving and was almost unnoticeable as a result. Do you have ATF on top of the trans? I believe this is a very common m50d problem. There's a tech article in here about replacing them. When I took my shifter plate to the trans shop for repair, they installed freeze plugs instead. I don't know if they had to machine out for them however.
Let us know how it turns out.
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New User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3
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From: Clinton US
Mazda tranny, no 5th or reverse
Today while driving I tried 5th again. I felt a little give this time so I stopped in a parking lot and worked the shifter back and forth between 5th and reverse. I suddenly dropped into gear and has been fine ever since. I can only hope it was a small metal sliver that fell out and will eventually be caught by the drain plug. I was aware of the leakng rubber plugs and repaired them while I had the top off. Thanks for replying. 
