Trans acting up out of nowhere

[magnetnerd]

1995 Ranger, 2.3L 5 speed, ~160k on the clock, original clutch.

My truck started acting up on me yesterday basically out of nowhere.

Symptoms:

-On occasion, it was difficult to put into first gear when fully stopped. Sometimes it was nearly impossible, and other times it went in with ease.
-Sometimes when in second and shifting out of second either down to first or up to third, it seemed like the truck wanted to hang on to second gear. Not much of an issue, just a little grab.

So, last night I read through some threads on here, went out to my truck and with it off I shifted into first about a million times. Worked fine and went smooth.

I filled up on clutch fluid (it was low but not empty) and left it alone overnight.

Today, the first few times shifting into first at a stop were fine. After that, I had to double (or triple) clutch it to get it to go into first many times. Sometimes, though, it went in smooth.

Shifting in general isn't terribly smooth right now. There's no grinding, but it just doesn't feel smooth.


Forgot to mention, I checked my fluid when I got to school this morning and it looked to be where I left it last night. so...


ALSO, I'm not sure if this is related to the problem or what...but it's been going on a while. If I'm starting out on a really steep incline, my shifter will start walking over like it's trying to get into third gear. It kinda baffles me, especially considering it moves quite a lot.

Anyway, from some of the threads here I'm assuming it's going to be a bad slave cylinder. But hey, I figured I'd check just to see. And to see if anyone has any input on my walking shifter.

 

[magnetnerd]

Nobody?

BTW, the fluid is right where I filled it to the other day. Yesterday it was absolutely horrible about going into gears, mainly after having sat for the better part of the day before.

 

[cocoasranger]

Check your trans fluid level to eliminate that as a potential problem. Then monitor the clutch reservoir level to see if it drops over time; if it does it's probably the slave.

I would look closely at the clutch master since they can leak internally and it is after all 15 years old (and relatively inexpensive and easy to replace). I installed a new master when my new clutch went in as a preventative measure and am glad I did.

 

[magnetnerd]

Check your trans fluid level to eliminate that as a potential problem. Then monitor the clutch reservoir level to see if it drops over time; if it does it's probably the slave.

I would look closely at the clutch master since they can leak internally and it is after all 15 years old (and relatively inexpensive and easy to replace). I installed a new master when my new clutch went in as a preventative measure and am glad I did.

I actually decided to change my tranny fluid. Started her up and the same symptoms happened, which wasn't too surprising.

What was surprising:

I bled my clutch line just to make sure that wasn't an issue. Well...the clutch feels about the same stiffness as it did before (after much pumping and such) but...it won't go into gear AT ALL from a dead stop. If I turn the truck off, shift it into gear, then turn it on, it lurches forward.

WTFFFFFFFF

Okay, I just got off the phone with my uncle who's effectively a master troubleshooter on many vehicles, and definitely on Ford's.

He said that I probably wore the last bit of life out of the slave cylinder by bleeding the line, and that it sounded like my clutch is probably worn quite a bit. He recommended changing the clutch out since I'll have the tranny dropped anyway, as well as the pilot bearing. He also said to get the flywheel machined while I'm at it.

So, that's what I'm gonna do next weekend.

Sounds fun! haha