Got the truck back a couple days ago. They said there is nothing wrong with it. This does not suprise me for a dealership that took over a month to fix the door crack.I paid them for an oil change. took the truck in it was down a quart,after 3,000 miles. Oil was black as tar normal for that many miles. put about 500 miles on the truck checked the oil still black as tar and 1 quart low.Wonder if the changed it(I doubt it).

 

I have the notorious M5OD in an 03 F150 4X4. Most 2nd to 3rd shifts produce a rough feeling in the shifter, even a slight crunch sometimes. However, everything else regarding the powertrain is fine - it even goes into 1st, 2nd, reverse (the other common problems) very well. How common is this 2nd - 3rd roughness? Do most people just live with it? Do you think they could fix the shifting without introducing some new problem? How much do they have to rip apart to replace a transmission?

One last question - how often do you hear of someone getting so fed up with a problem they just trade the truck - I am starting to wish I had the auto!

Please provide some feedback / wisdom / insights here, this problem is really starting to bug me. Thanks in advance.

 

I've heard that there a couple things that can be done to help reduce the sloppy shifting. I've heard is said in several different places that it's not good to rest your hand on the shifter. I guess that the pressure can cause wear.

I've also heard it said that it's a good idea to follow the H pattern, that is to make the travel of the shifter square as apposed to going diagonal from 2 to 3.

I think that people have seen some good results by changing that tranny fluid to a semi or synthetic.

I have had the 3rd gear gring on occasion. I haven't had it lately though. I've tryed to addopt the habbits listed above. The only problem I have now is an occasional grind into 2nd. I think this has more to do with spinning up 1st to fast to mesh well with 2nd. It only does it if I'm trying to get going in a hurry. Other than that this transmission is working well.

 

When I had my 5 sp I didn't have problems grinding going into third, but my son did that quite a bit. I agree with wittom, you need to follow the H pattern.

If you shift out of second, and allow the shifter to find the middle by itslef it will shift smothly into third every time. If you try and find it your self you are goint to miss it once in a while. Third is the hardest gear to speed shift into.

As for second, it's common for the syncro to wear out because it is the most used, and you need a faster shift going into second than you need in other gears.

 

wittom and greencrew, thanks for the advice.

I have since tried shifting slow, following the H very carefully, letting it center up itself, and a few others. still gives me the hand-buzzer treatment about half the time. shifts great when cold though! anyway I talked to the dealer service dept. and their tranny expert and I are going for a drive in it friday morning. they seem to be willing to help....

 

Willing to help is a good thing.

When I bring my truck in and I have an issue (it's actually more often to do with the E250 than my F150) I will mention that I've heard that such and such is a common problem. The syncros in these transmissions are a common problem. It's a pretty sloppy transmission from the get go but if you get the grind more than half the time (or even regularly) then it sure sounds like premature ware to me. My truck has been modified so I don't think my service dept. would offer to fix my transmission but if your dealer wants you to come back and buy more vehicles from them I would hope that they would resolve your issue.

Good luck. Let us know what they say.

 

I have driven the truck about 500 miles in the last week. This puts me up close to 4,000 miles on the truck. Have done more than average slow speed driving on back roads with some extra 2-3 shifts. Have been paying attention to shifting really properly. Anyway the shifting seems to be improving with break-in. So much so, that I had an appointment with the dealer's tranny expert this morning which was arranged last week, but cancelled his diagnostic test drive because I knew he would not consider the shifting a problem, it had improved so much. They just said to call them back if it starts crunching again.

So go figure.... it seems it might just need some regular break-in. It sure seems like the engine is breaking in a lot as well - it seems to rev a lot more freely now than when new.

 

gpaje,
I have a '97 with 4.6 and a 5-speed and my shifter buzzed constantly while driving but not sitting still. That buzzing drove me crazy and I had to drive with my hand on the shifter to stop the noise. I replaced my front shocks 2 weeks ago because they were making this awful squeaking sound, lo and behold my shifter stopped buzzing for good. The rubber bushing on the shocks were like rocks and were transmitting all of that road vibration to the truck. Not saying that is what is causing your problem, but something to keep in mind.
-tom

 

Try double clutching between gears and see if it helps. I have had the 5speed for 5 years and no problems???.. i love that banana

 

The only time I do not have this proble is if I double clutch.I should not have to do this in a new truck.Ford should come out with a good tranny. Otherwise I'm gonna get rid of my ford and get a Dodge.