Hello, I have '98 4wd 4.6L five speed XLT. 162,000 miles Lately, the transmission has been being difficult when shifting into first after I have not driven it in a couple days, or when the air is humid. I know this sounds crazy, especially the last part. But if I rev the engine and let off, I can get it in. Also, sometimes getting it into second can be difficult as well. Is this indicative of a greater problem? Symptomatic of an older manual transmission? All suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Tim

 

Let me see if I am following you with the 'rev and let off' comment. Are you saying that you are reving the engine with the transmission in neutral (not in any gear) with the clutch pedal out, then back off the throttle, push the clutch pedal in, and then shift the transmission into gear? If this is what is happening, then I have a clearer understanding of what is going on.

If you are doing the 'rev and let off' like I described above and it helps the transmission get into gear, then I suspect several things that could be the problem:

1. Worn first and second gear synchros. To repair this would require a full rebuild of the transmission.

2. Worn 1-2 shift fork.

3. Possible clutch slave cylinder weak, or in need of a fluid flush in the hydraulic clutch system.

As for the hard to shift until it is warmed up, I would check your fluid level in the transmission. I would also look at the possibility of some type of leak from the transmission. IIRC, there are some rubber plugs on the top of the transmission near the shifter assembly that are prone to leaking, as they get dry and brittle over time. The only way to check for this problem is to look for fluid leaking from the top of the transmission. They are relatively easy to replace.

The humidity problem is making me think there could be water in the hydraulic clucth fluid that could be causing all of the problems above, due to the slave cylinder not disengaging the clutch properly. I would definitely inspect the hydraulic clutch system first, inspecting for any leaks, and flushing the fluid, to see if this improves clutch activation and shifting. I would also suspect that the slave cylinder is getting weak, and may need replaced. If you are replacing the slave cylinder, you might also want to look at clutch disc and pressure plate replacement at the same time, especially if you currently have the original clutch.

I hope this information helps you with your transmission problems.

BTW, the 4.6 V8/5 speed combo is in my opinion the best combination Ford put in these pickups.

 

I would look closely at the hydraulic clutch system, especially the slave cylinder. I believe that this just may be the problem based on the days of sitting and then having problems. But I still believe there may be a problem with the 1-2 synchros also.

Again, I would really check that slave cylinder first, and replace if necesary. I think this may just be the primary problem. Then I would check the fluid level in the transmission, and drain and replace the transmission fluid if it has not been done recently. I would also look at the plug leakage I mentioned in the above post. This should get your pickup back up and going good again, unless the synchros or shift fork are bad, then the fun begins.

 

Been there, done that - for me, it was a sticky pilot bearing. With 162k, you are probably due for a clutch job anyway if it's never been done.

 

Bleed the Hydraulic system first. While you are under the truck check for leaks. The slave cylinders are known to leak.

 

Hey thanks for all the suggestions. I have been out of town for a while and away from the world of technology. I am going to start with the changing of the fluid to the hydraulic system. I have replaced a slave cylinder on an old chevy s-10 years ago and that one completely failed. I will start there and let you all know what I find. I changed the transmission fluid last summer.

AZ Mr. Bill, I agree that the 4.6L 5 speed outfit is the best combination available. That is why I waited 2 years to find one!

Tim

 

Pssssst... The 5.4L 5 speed is better.

 

As long as you don't mind going through transmissions........

 

The price of gas here is so outrageous that I can hide tranny/clutch costs in the gas money.

 

When you are revving the engine you are allowing the synchros to match up thusly allowing you to engage the gear. This is similar to shifting without a clutch. my step father taught me how to upshift and downshift without the clutch when I first started learning to drive. I wish I had half of his mechanical knowledge. Anyway, the clutch wen out in the vehicle we were driving and he made it home 21 miles later without ever grinding a gear. Neato.