Standard Transmission Question

[Shteets]

Hello,

My daughter has a 2000 Ford Exploder with a five speed standard transmission. It suddenly became hard to shift (feels like your trying to shift gears with the motor off and no clutch). It is equally hard in all gears, no sounds at all just hard to shift. Transmission fluid level is good and clutch feels fine. You have to wait till the rpms are right or wiggle the stick around until it drops in gear. Any ideas?

[Davescort97]

It's normal for the engine speed to take a moment to match the tranny speed when you clutch on some vehicles. I suspect if you have a hydraulic clutch there may be some air in the system and it may need to be bled. Have you tried double clutching it to see if it improves?

[Shteets]

Haven't tried double clutching yet but I'll give it a try. The thing is shifting way to hard. Clutch feels okay too, think bleeding it may help, how come it's not creeping or grinding if it is the clutch?

Thanks

[Davescort97]

I still think the clutch needs to be bled. It's not creeping or grinding because it is releasing well enough to keep that from happening, but not enough to shift easily. The synchronizers could be keeping it from grinding when you shift. I'm fairly certain it is the clutch. It's not the synchronizers because it wouldn't be doing it in all gears.

[Shteets]

I'll give it a try when she slows down long enough for me to get under it. I will bone up on he proper way to bleed that clutch. I would assume it's pretty much like any other hydraulic line but I know Ford usually has some goofy procedures for something you'd assume to be normal.

Thanks