Dang, my 99 f150 2wd manual tranny v6 truck is making a bad sound.

In 1st gear, there's kind of a grinding sound that goes away in other gears.

Do you think this is my tranny or is it the axle?

Any help would be mucho apprecieated.

 

Ok, so the truck is really doing worse now.

The check engine light is flashing, but I went into Autozone yesterday and was informed that under a brand new California law it is illegal to loan out a tester. What a crappy law!

Before, there was just a bad sound, but now the truck has lost ALL power at accelleration also.

The gauges don't show any abnormal indication, other than the flashing check engine light. Not overheating or anything.

Can anybody shed any light?