tranny problem

[griffinzein]

i have a 93 mustang lx with a 2.3 liter and a t5 transmission. what kind of transmission fluid do i use? also what would cause my tranny not to go into 4th gear and always grind in 3rd..........but 1st, 2nd, and 5th are just fine

 

[Ray III]

ATF.

Need more info on that. Can you get it in any forward gear easily after stepping on the clutch pedal at a stop (engine running)? Do the gears seem to be more of a problem when upshifting or downshifting?

 

[Bearded Forever]

Could be that the cable needs adjusting or is stretched really bad. Also could be your synchros going out.

 

[Stinger]

Specifically Dexron w/ Mercon ATF.

Sounds like the synchros are out...

 

[griffinzein]

k next question how much tranny fluid should it have in it and how do you check on a standard tranny, and how much of a bitc# is it to change synchros? im making it a point to leanr about trannies, but mine is just goin out before i can learn.

 

[griffinzein]

hmm well i take it tht no one has an answer to what fluid goes in a T-5 or how to check it, cause the tranny sounds like its dry. i took the shifter out and the little bit of fluid that was in there looked like a combo of auto tranny fluid and motor oil.

 

[svoman2300]

The tranny fluid after being in tehre for a while will look like a redish brown color. There is a plug on the side of the tranny that you take out and you fill the tranny till the fluid comes out. Unless you have a serious leak there is no where for the fluid to go. Sounds like syncros which is very common. Not trying to sound like a smartass but if you don't know how to fill the tranny with fluid, changing the snycros might not be something you want to tackle. I have 93,000 miles on my SVO I am going on my 4th tranny and 5th clutch. My brothers 90 LX 5.0 has 160,000 miles original clutch and tranny that works flawless, go figure.

 

[griffinzein]

thank you very much and you didnt sound like a smartass, i would agree with you if i were mechanicly blind. but im not, and i a can do anything with a car (cept tranny work) i even fabricate my own parts some times. i also learn really fast and even though i know very little about a tranny, i believe that with a point in the right direction i can do it on my own. besides the tranny is probably gonna get replaced any way.

 

[Ray III]

there are 2 plugs on the passenger side, each has a square recess that you stick a 3/8" drive ratchet into (preferably a long one). Remove the bottom one and the old fluid drains out. Replace it, then remove the top one and fill the transmission with about 5.3 pints (about 2-2/3 quarts) Dexron III/Mercon automatic transmission fluid, until it begins to come out the fill hole, then plug it.

If the old fluid looks like poop then it should shift better after the change. However, you haven't provided any specific information on when it is hard to get into gear so no one can tell you what is most likely the problem.

 

[griffinzein]

read my first post, regardless of what im doin it shifts perfectly except 3 grinds and it doesnt go into 4th. its that simple thats the only problem im havin and it happens regardless if the engine is running, how fast i'm goin or how hot the drivetrain is

 

[Cbam]

1st & 2nd are on one synchro, 3rd & 4th on another synchro, and 5th is on it's own. Sounds like you have a messed up synchro.

 

[griffinzein]

thanks for all the input guys. like i said before i stopped learning after the flywheel, im excellent with all ford V-8's but i know jack $h!t about a tranny. but im a quick learner and i wanna learn tranny work, anybody know any good resources to learn without having to go to a school? like a website with instructions or something, i know thats a stupid question but hey i gotta start some where. and again many thanks.

 

[Ray III]

alright I guess it sounds like a synchro...

transmissions not very much fun to get into. I don't know of a website that tells how to rebuild them but there should be one out there. I have pics of the inside of a T5 to point out where everything is but I can't get em on the puter right now.

IF you want to use a temporary replacement transmission or car, you can at least take it apart down to the case and gears. Take out driveshaft, remove shifter, unbolt from bellhousing by 4 bolts (dont let anyone step on clutch while its out), look at the hole where the shifter goes and you see a roll pin in the shifter rod so drive that out, then the tailhousing can be unbolted and slid off, then unbolt and remove the top and front covers.

 

[griffinzein]

thanks for the input again. i love this site. im always learning sometihng new about my lil 2.3