Shift linkage squeaks into second gear

db4z

Junior Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Posts
8
Reaction score
0
Location
Austin, TX
Hi all,
My 2012 5.0 MT has slowly required more and more shifting effort to get into 2nd gear and now after 30k miles the shift lever/linkage has begun squeaking pretty bad about 50% of the time. It's almost as is if the effort has increased so much that it's binding the linkage somewhat. While I wish the shifting into 2nd was as smooth as fourth and sixth, I'm willing to live with the increased effort, but the squeaking is kind of embarrassing with passengers.

Has anyone else had this problem? Should I waste my time taking it to a dealer?

I live in Houston and have had this problem all summer regardless of whether or not the transmission fluid is warmed up, so I don't think it is cold start up related. I also heard the cold weather TSB that swaps for a thinner fluid can add gear whine, which I'm worried might happen if I take it to a dealer. I'm not sure if trading a squeak for a whine is worth it...
 

claudermilk

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2012
Posts
1,840
Reaction score
1
Location
SoCal
Synchros going bad? If it were my car, I'd be taking it in to have it looked at.
 

cgibs89

Stickers add HP brah
Joined
Nov 1, 2011
Posts
403
Reaction score
0
My second gear has been pretty bad too, no squeaking though. I would just take it to the dealer and have them look at it.
 

Ryans

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 25, 2017
Posts
2
Reaction score
0
Location
North Carolina
Same problem

A high pinched squeek just started today between 1st and second for me as well. When the transmission is cold it sometimes grinds into third. Any updates on a fix for this problem?
 

redfirepearlgt

forum member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Posts
2,497
Reaction score
263
The MT-82 IMHO was the worst decision Ford ever made, short of their move in the 80's to replace the Mustang with the Ford Probe. Thankfully we had Mustang enthusiasts speak up and Ford listened to that and rescinded that decision. Unfortunately they refused to listen on the MT-82 issues and concerns of the vast majority of Mustang owners who use their pony cars for more than a leisurely drive to church on Sunday mornings and continue to use that tranny to this day. I personally think it is a communist plot to drive the market toward automatics. After I reached what I consider the appropriate age to convert to automatic vice stick shift I did so, but mostly due to the lack of trust I had in this Chinese built, soy sauce filled, fortune cookie of a transmission.

The MT-82 was the first dissatisfied experience I had ever had with a factory setup from Ford in any stick shift vehicle I have ever owned of theirs. The only less satisfying transmission experience was with a 1990 Pontiac Grand Am I purchased. Up to that time my experience with the 2002GT and 2005GT with their versions of the Tremec 3650 were good ones. Previous ownership of a 93 Ranger STX and 84 Escort GT were equally sound in transmission quality and performance, and I drove both of those vehicles (like all of my vehicles) in my younger years like they were stolen in spite of their lack of performance. LOL!

My first act of business after getting my 2013 GT M6 in June 2012, was to replace the shifter with an MGW. This was the first car I had ever driven that fought me seeking second gear. The infamous clutch pedal issue was never an issue for me. Don't know why but it never was. The MGW resolved the shifting issue that reared its head on me on the special rare occasion of spirited driving, and usually seeking second gear. It would simply refuse to go. The MGW resolved this.

Hopefully you aren't experiencing a bent shifting fork or some other shifter related issue. Failing synchros (I know first hand from the Pontiac Grand AM I had that lost the 3rd gear synchro) will grind going into gear. A squeak or binding issue regardless of engine or ambient temps to me would point to linkage or internal shifting fork related problems, assuming its not pressure plate related in the clutch pack assembly.

If the car ends up needing transmission repair, afterward I highly recommend looking into the cost of the MGW shifter. It has made a lot of people including me much happier with their Chinese assembled GIT-RAG.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:

Support us!

Support Us - Become A Supporting Member Today!

Click Here For Details

Sponsor Links

Banner image
Back
Top