99 Ranger clutch makes funny noise

Apr 07, 2004 3 Replies

I had to buy a new truck thanks to a drunk driver, and I found a 99 Ranger XLT with extended cab and only 32k miles for a song, so I snagged it. It's clean as a whistle, and drives better than the 96 Mazda pickup I was driving when I got rearended. (May the Mazda rest in peace)



Anyway, the Ranger is a 4 cylinder 5-speed and if I'm just putzing around, it doesn't make this sound, but say I need to step on it a little bit, when I shift into 3rd or 4th (I have heard it very rarely shifting into 2nd) just as I let off the clutch, it makes a funny 'whooo'-ing sound.



As far as how much am I getting after it? A good example would be going from a stop light onto an on-ramp to get on the highway... I've got a fairly short space to get up to speed. In most cases, normal just keeping up with normal traffic won't always produce the sound, but could. I can keep it from doing it, but I have to be very concious about how I'm accelerating.



Any thoughts on what that is?



Second, it does do one other thing I don't like so well. When shifting into 3rd gear only, sometimes it will make a high pitched grinding noise, as if I didn't have the clutch in all the way... But when I hear it, and I try to step harder on the clutch, I'm already all the way there, so that's not the problem. This is something that I haven't been able to figure out how to recreate yet. It normally happens 1-2 times per day, but could happen as much at 3 or 4 times a trip depending on it's mood.



Now I don't really know a whole lot about the inner workings of a truck... I can put a computer together in no time, and I can get just about any pinball machine brought to life, and I ain't a dumb fella... just take it slow with me :)



Thanks


My first thought it that the clutch is slipping. If you stand on it hard going up a hill, in 2nd or third, does it do it then? Does the tach move? Do you ever smell something burning?

Is it more of an eeek sound? I have a 2000 B4000 (Ranger with a

4liter) and when out 4x4ing one day worked the clutch a little harder then it wanted to be. Since then I have a eeeeeek sound (going up in pitch) as I let the clutch out if I am accelerating hard off the line. There is a TSB about it for my truck, something about the flywheel, I would take a look and see if there is one for yours also. Everything on mine holds tight still, and it's been about 2 years with that sound and no problems. 80,000 abused km on it and it's going strong. ~Brian

Unfortunately, this one doesn't have a tach, so I couldn't tell you if it's jumping or not. I've never smelled anything burning though. With only 32k miles on it though, how much of a threat would it be that the clutch is going out?

I looked at some website today that shows all the service bulletins for my model, and it did show that there was one for a clutch that "hoots" which is probably a pretty good description of the sound mine makes. But it was $25 to get a subscription to the site. Seems to me like the info should be available free somewhere if I look hard enough for it. I did see a couple other bulletins that looked interesting to peruse, but not enough that I really want to plunk down the cash for it.

As I said before, I really don't know that much about cars, but that doesn't mean I can't learn I guess.

MitchelWB

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