Happy New Year, Lost my clutch!

[TreDen]

Hopefully everyone had a great Christmas.

My question deals with my clutch on an old explorer that I just keep trying with madness to keep on the road.

1992 Manual 5 speed explorer.

The other day while I was driving to work I felt like I lost pressure in the clutch. I would push the pedal in and it felt like no resistance at all and it was hard to get into gear.

I parked and after work I fired the truck up and it wouldn't go into gear at all, any gear.

So i popped the hood and added brake fluid to the reservoir on the drivers side in the back corner of the engine. I pumped the clutch a few times, and boom, it went into gear. Now while driving the five miles back home it seemed different. Normally, when I shift into first, and release the clutch and push the gas in the truck goes smoothly. But now, when I got it into first, I started to release the clutch and the truck seemed to jump off the line. I still feel like I didnt have pressure in the clutch but it shifted and I drove back home. About 5 stop signs to get home.

The next day the reservoir was still filled, the truck started and shifted into gear, while still feeling less pressure, and I drove around town. I stopped and parked once, truck wouldn't shift, so I added brake fluid and got home...

Well last night, during a rainstorm, I had to move the truck so the girlfriend could get out. I was rushing and it would not go into gear. The reservoir was filled, and I pumped and finked with it and it got into reverse, not after some loud grinding noise.

Once I backed up, I went to put it in first and it would not go into first. Finally, I thought I had it in first, and went to release the clutch and the truck went nowhere and made a horrible sound, I re tried to get it into first, it finally did, and I lurched in forward back into the parking spot...

So, what did I really mess up in there?

For the record, I got the tranny replaced on the truck last fall...and the guy promised me he changed the clutch. Been driving a stick all my life.

I thought it might be the slave cylinder, but I'm not sure. What I have learned from this forum and trial and error is that I am going to start asking you folks first before I start tearing into what I think it is...

If it is the slave cylinder, did I really mess up the tranny by forcing it last night? And is this youtube video the same thing I would have to do to change the slave on my 92 explorer.

Thank you everyone, and happy new years from the florida keys!

Trent

 

[RangerX]

You need to figure out where the leak is. It's either the clutch master, the slave, or the line that connects them. Odds are, it's the slave.
There's a rubber cap on the bell housing that you can pop out and view the slave, have a flashlight and look for fluid.

 

[TreDen]

Thanks for the input.

After a little research I tried to bleed the system. I first took a syringe and pumped fluid through the system while I was loosening the drip nut below. After I did this, I jumped in the truck and I had more pressure then ever in the clutch. I pumped it a few times, fired it up, and pulled out of the driveway. I went to put it into first and I slowly started to release the clutch and it jumped very fast and I stalled out, the first time in a long time. I fired the truck back up and it would not go back into gear, after a few minutes of haggling, I got it into first and parked the truck.

The problem is, once I parked it, I pushed the clutch in and it felt stiff again and went into all gears!

At this point, I'm pretty sure it's the salve. I want to try to change it myself, as I have down pretty much everything on the truck, including the gaskets, and I think this would be one more learning hurdle for me. Is the video I posted before the same on my truck?

 

[RangerX]

I only watched a couple minutes of the vid, and he doesn't say what year truck, or what trans the ranger has, but if he's working on a M5OD, it will all be the same as yours.

I've done this job on my Ranger, and I suggest you also search and read up on everything you can find on this forum about dropping the trans, and about bleeding the clutch. Don't rely on just this video.
Also, what he says about the parts store slaves is true, don't get one! It will fail in a year. You will learn that when you search and read. Only get a slave from Ford. It will cost a lot more, but it will last. Otherwise you'll be dropping the trans again soon.
Consider replacing the clutch parts, too, unless you know they clutch is near new. You'll already have the trans dropped...

But before you do the job, have you inspected the system? Really put eyeballs on it, see if it isn't the master or the hydraulic line. They are both infinitely easier to replace that the slave, you really want to rule them out before you from trans.