ranger 5 speed 2nd gear problem

[gary evans]

my 98 3.0 ranger with 2 5 speed seems to have the 2nd gear synchronizer out---grinds going in and almost impossible to downshift, but remaining gears shift fine. Is this a problem for other rangers and is there a particular fix inside the transmission?

[Marbles1984]

Im glad you brought up this topic because mine also scratches when i shift into 4th but it only does it when the tranny is warm. My questions reside with Gary.

[Psychopete]

I wish I had more information for you.. I only have delt with automatics, and when something goes seriously wrong with one of those, you just get a cheap one from the junk yard and swap it. I just swapped an AOD in an 87 Marquis, paid 225 for the transmission and it works great. Maybe get an opinion from a transmission specialist and go from there.. It might be a matter of a cylinder needing bled. I'm thinking about getting an adapter for a T-5 from a Mustang on my 2.9L, so maybe I can learn a little more about manuals.. I've never owned anything with a manual before..

Pete

[leftyclick]

My 2nd gear did that the whole time that I had my '95 Ranger. It seemed like it would only do it when I shifted quickly though. Try to not force it in gear and make it scratch. Instead, ease it into 2nd. I had it for four years and drove it about 90,000 miles, and never had the transmission give me any problems, so I wouldn't worry to hard about it.

[pcbman]

I have the same problem as leftyclick with my 95 with 115Kmiles. Just going to continue to 'ease' it into 2nd as it only grinds it if I try to shift fast. Hope it will last till the next clutch replacement so I can save on labor an get it all done at once.

[quilcene]

Originally Posted by pcbman

I have the same problem as leftyclick with my 95 with 115Kmiles. Just going to continue to 'ease' it into 2nd as it only grinds it if I try to shift fast. Hope it will last till the next clutch replacement so I can save on labor an get it all done at once.

HI There--
I have a 1989 Ranger with five speed--

WHen I let off the accelerator and then hit it again--
I get a clunk ---

is that the clutch going out on me??
Thanks--
Acts funny too when I put it in first and its idle---it can clunk that way too--
throw out bearing or what I wonder--
JP

[pcbman]

If I had to make a guess, sounds more like a U-joint. Get under and twist the driveshaft back an forth by hand if possible, you should hear/see the play if it is a U-joint.

[quilcene]

Originally Posted by pcbman

If I had to make a guess, sounds more like a U-joint. Get under and twist the driveshaft back an forth by hand if possible, you should hear/see the play if it is a U-joint.

Yes thanks for the hint...Yes I did go under the vehicle yesterday to twist it around. Been awhile since I replaced a driveshaft (Did it easily in my 69 Dart --or one of those--)
Well with the Ranger it does seem lose, it moves about a quarter of an inch and makes a bit of a noise-- I guess that is bad-- forget--
if there should be no play in it -- the bolts are tight-- so it must be internal-- correct?? where the play is coming from--I thought maybe it could be the slow leak of fluid through the years from the transmission-- maybe there is no fluid in there any more to speak of-- been about 18 months since I put some fluid in the tranny or in the universal joint in the back. I t also vibrates at 38 mph in third and then at 65-68 mph it really vibrates. Like my old Plymouth-- it used to vibrate at 65--after I put in a Barricuda drive shaft ( as I recall). SOunds like I better have a driveline specialist look it over-- what say YOu??
Thanks--
JP

[Mac626]

Originally Posted by quilcene

Yes thanks for the hint...Yes I did go under the vehicle yesterday to twist it around. Been awhile since I replaced a driveshaft (Did it easily in my 69 Dart --or one of those--)
Well with the Ranger it does seem lose, it moves about a quarter of an inch and makes a bit of a noise-- I guess that is bad-- forget--
if there should be no play in it -- the bolts are tight-- so it must be internal-- correct?? where the play is coming from--I thought maybe it could be the slow leak of fluid through the years from the transmission-- maybe there is no fluid in there any more to speak of-- been about 18 months since I put some fluid in the tranny or in the universal joint in the back. I t also vibrates at 38 mph in third and then at 65-68 mph it really vibrates. Like my old Plymouth-- it used to vibrate at 65--after I put in a Barricuda drive shaft ( as I recall). SOunds like I better have a driveline specialist look it over-- what say YOu??
Thanks--
JP

As I recall, U-Joints have caps over needle bearings, filled with grease. The bolts will be tight to the caps even when the pins are worn. The play usually comes from the U-Joint needle bearings wearing out, not the driveshaft itself. The entire U-Joint should be replaced. They are under $10, usually. I'd replace both joints (one on each end). This should be about a 20 minute job, though I've never done it on a Ranger.