Hi guys! Been lurking a while, but I must ask for some help. It appears I have the 5 speed issue that has been discussed at length here. For about a week, when going into 3rd, it would rattle at the base of the shifter lightly. For the past 3 days, about every 20th shift, it is no longer a rattle, but an outright grind. This is obviously not right, and I am taking my truck into the dealer on Monday. It is a 2000 reg. cab XL styleside which just turned 12,000 miles old, so warranty is not an issue. Here's the issue: my inherant mistrust of auto mechanic shops. I do not want to take my truck in and have 'em say they found no issue, or do some cursory fix that will continue to manifest itself. I have read that this is a "synchro" issue, so if so, that's what I want fixed. My question is, what should I ASSURE is done to my truck, how can I be assured that no damage has ALREADY been done to other parts that may manifest in the future(read:WHEN OUT OF WARRANTY), and how can I be assured this work has been done in fact? I don't suppose I really have REASON to be mistru****l, I just am, and I want this fixed right. I'm hoping someone who has also had theirs fixed could just gimme some pointers on how to steer this thing. Thanks in advance folks!
Hey ph119, I took my 1999 4.6 5 spd to the dealership because of rough feeling shifts and the 1st gear synchro seemed to be iffy. They asked that I drive with one of their techs to demanstrate the problem(s) to determine the cause (faulty tranny or driver habits). I was skeptical because my tranny doesn't always act up and was afraid they would blame it on me or say there was no problem! But the tech had me try a few things and agreed that my 1st gear synchro is bad. So I leave the truck there and they call me the next day saying that instead of trying to fix the synchro, that there are giving me a new tranny! Needless to say that made me happy! Since I bought my truck used I don't know how the previous owner drove the truck! So Ford came through for me, hopefully they will for you too! BTW if you do get a new one to these trannys are on a "special build only" so it will take a week or two for them to get one.
------------------ 1999 F-150 XLT 4x2
Black Reg Cab Flareside
4.6L V8 5spd 3.55 non LS
Gibson Super Truck
Mobil 1
Stull billet grille
20" Boyd Coddington Nemesis'
Goodyear GTII 275/45/20
Future Mods:
3/4 drop (soon!)
K&N FIPK
JBA headers
Superchip
Snuglid
Kenne Bell supercharger
Had the same problem, but at 58000km, and my syncros for first, second and third were replaced. Haven't had a problem since. But i do imagine they will go again.
Bambino
------------------ Bambino Worldwide Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP/Silver on Dk Graphite - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; Factory Tonneau; 40 chan CB/Maxrad Antenna; Kicker amp'd sub tubes; Rockford Fosgate components up front; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820s; Amsoil Series 2k in the driveline.
My truck did this same thing when it was almost new. At 9000 miles I finally decided to take it in. Dealership contacted Ford and said Ford would not authorize a new transmission (this was in April) but would rebuild it instead. Since the rebuild the shifting is much improved with the 3rd gear grind gone.
I have also heard something about using either a synthetic transmission oil or GM SyncroMesh (?) fluid to resolve the problems. Can anyone comment on this??
[This message has been edited by hades281 (edited 06-16-2001).]
<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by ph119: As an update: I just yesterday got my truck back after 6 business days at the shop. The 3-4 synchro WAS shot out, amongst a few other things. It shifts like butter now, but this should NOT have occurred at 12,000, if EVER! I plan to replace the fluid with synthetic, and continue to drive as I always have. I do not rag this tranny out, but dear me, this is a TRUCK!</font>
Oh don't worry, it will be back, when I had my tranny rebuilt, I gave them the synthetic fluid to put in from the start. Still does it in less than 10,000 miles.
As an update: I just yesterday got my truck back after 6 business days at the shop. The 3-4 synchro WAS shot out, amongst a few other things. It shifts like butter now, but this should NOT have occurred at 12,000, if EVER! I plan to replace the fluid with synthetic, and continue to drive as I always have. I do not rag this tranny out, but dear me, this is a TRUCK!
It seems indeed I WILL be back for this problem, and that pisses me off. I did not buy a new truck to have these problems. For those of you that have continued to have this issue out of warranty, have they helped you? I DO NOT INTEND to have this issue crop up again, out of warranty, and have issues fixing it if it is indeed a problem with the tranny, and it is. Even if I don't have the problem again up until I run out of warranty, I intend to take it back to the shop and complain of the problem, thus requiring them to take it apart for inspection. I love my truck, but this is not a good thing!
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5 speed shift issue-please help
But the tech had me try a few things and agreed that my 1st gear synchro is bad. So I leave the truck there and they call me the next day saying that instead of trying to fix the synchro, that there are giving me a new tranny! Needless to say that made me happy! 
Since I bought my truck used I don't know how the previous owner drove the truck! So Ford came through for me, hopefully they will for you too! 
BTW if you do get a new one to these trannys are on a "special build only" so it will take a week or two for them to get one. 
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