1996 explorer 5speed hard to get in 1st gear?

[porshapower]

Hello This is only happening sometimes. I will have a hard time getting it into 1st gear from a standpoint. If Im rolling no problem putting it in gear? The clutch does not slip or grind. Changed the transmission fluid today to some Trans-x synthetic fluid. Seems like the gears go easier now from 1st to 2nd and so forth but still occasionally have the problem. Clutch reservoir seemed a little low so I added brake fluid. Went under truck and at seam where engine and transmission meet it seems like a little brake fluid seeping through there? Are there different symptoms from a bad master cylinder vs a bad slave cylinder? Thanks!Nel

 

[HappyGilmore]

sounds like a bad, or going bad slave cylinder to me. mine had trouble going in to first for about a year, then one day it leaked real bad and wouldnt even go into gear at all. :thumbdwn: thats when i replaced the slave cylinder and clutch. i guess you will find out soon enough when it wont go into gear one day......

 

[zx6-guy29]

had the same problem here. It was the slave. it is IN the bell housing which means, yup, drop the tranny. might as well throw a new clutch in while you are at it!

 

[Bronco638]

Had this happen in some other (non-Ford) cars. I found it helped to shift into second and then into first. When I asked a very car knowledgeable friend about this, he told me that shifting into second will help align the synchronizer teeth. Since first and second gears are usually on the same internal transmission shaft, synchronizing second gear helps synchronize first.