Bratty manual transmission

[Taylorjean]

My 99 manual transmission was parked in my garage for a decade and I've recently gotten it back on the road. Shifting has been sticky since. I changed out the fluid which was coal black, smelled nasty but not burned. That helped a lot, but it's still sticky. What happens is that it doesn't like going into gear. No noises and I have to play with it a bit and then it will go into gear. Mechanic thinks it's the synchros being rusty or sticky from sitting and suggested adding a cleaner. What would be the best additive for this? Where it takes atf do I use an additive for an automatic?

 

[wollimann]

Maybe is the slave and master clutch cylinder assemly, not disangaging the clutch completely?

manual trans reliability?

I know of, and experienced, troubles with automatic transmissions in Explorers. How do the manual transmissions hold up under normal driving conditions with an occasional off road trek like Mojave Road? What to look for? Possibly thinking of picking up a Ex Sport with a manual trans. Four door...

www.explorerforum.com

 

[Taylorjean]

Maybe is the slave and master clutch cylinder assemly, not disangaging the clutch completely?

manual trans reliability?

I know of, and experienced, troubles with automatic transmissions in Explorers. How do the manual transmissions hold up under normal driving conditions with an occasional off road trek like Mojave Road? What to look for? Possibly thinking of picking up a Ex Sport with a manual trans. Four door...

www.explorerforum.com

Could be. Mechanic seemed to think all that stuff was fine, but I have suspicions. Another thing is does. This is sometimes and fine other times. If I park on a hill, cut the engine, put it in gear and push the clutch pedal(no brake) I feel it catch in the right spot, but it doesn't roll down the hill. Just sits there. Other times, it's off to the races, as it should be. I know this means something, but exactly what I'm not sure. I was thinking what you said or the clutch linkage. If the clutch is bad, that catch/balance point changes, yes?

 

[410Fortune]

How many miles on this 99?

Clutch is catching sounds like it’s not releasing fully you likely need two things:

Shifter bushings

New slave cylinder

And if you are gonna do a new slave cylinder you mine as well do a new clutch and all hydraulics

If the fluid was black there is something fishy going on in there
Like worn out synchros
Or the rubber plug rail bushings are deteriorated and dirt is entering the 5 speed

If you can’t get into 1st or reverse easily when you roll to a stop that is a tell tale sign of the clutch not disengaging fully and usually on these trucks it’s a leaky slave cylinder or air trapped in the hydraulics

 

[Taylorjean]

.

 

[Taylorjean]

How many miles on this 99?

Clutch is catching sounds like it’s not releasing fully you likely need two things:

Shifter bushings

New slave cylinder

And if you are gonna do a new slave cylinder you mine as well do a new clutch and all hydraulics

If the fluid was black there is something fishy going on in there
Like worn out synchros
Or the rubber plug rail bushings are deteriorated and dirt is entering the 5 speed

If you can’t get into 1st or reverse easily when you roll to a stop that is a tell tale sign of the clutch not disengaging fully and usually on these trucks it’s a leaky slave cylinder or air trapped in the hydraulics

The clutch isn't catching. I meant it hits that balance point in the spot it should be. 158k miles. It was perfect when it was parked so deteriorated rubber would make sense. Reverse is fine. First is pissy.

 

[410Fortune]

How was the clutch reservoir? Full?

Any signs of wetness under the bellhousing / slave cylinder?

With the inspection cover removed you can actually measure the distance the clutch travels with the pedal I think 1-5/8” is correct or something along those lines
There is a YouTube that details this

 

[Taylorjean]

How was the clutch reservoir? Full?

Any signs of wetness under the bellhousing / slave cylinder?

With the inspection cover removed you can actually measure the distance the clutch travels with the pedal I think 1-5/8” is correct or something along those lines
There is a YouTube that details this

Yeah, it's wet at the seam. Mechanic didn't seem to care.

 

[C420sailor]

Has to be hydraulics. What else could change from sitting?