[misfitAK]

Took it out for a drive to get a feel for driving manual since this is my first and i just got the engine running a couple nights ago. checked the fluid and it was dark dark black and went to change it, change complete but now it’s stuck in 3rd and 5th. It wont shift into anything else and I need to reverse ASAP. changing the fluid wouldn’t have killed it so i’ve got no clue. cant push it or anything like it’s stuck in one of the gears but i can hear it moving in the transmission from 3rd and 5th.
Trying to go anywhere else it’s like it’s hit a wall. Clutch engages 3rd and 5th fine cause it’ll stall when i release the clutch and idles in neutral.

 

[misfitAK]

left driver wheel feels locked up, got car raised up and it seems to be the linkages, is this a common thing? gonna try dropping the shifting box tomorrow

 

[Falconnest]

what did you use for fluid and how much? And the linkage dose like to rust and brake.

 

[misfitAK]

what did you use for fluid and how much? And the linkage dose like to rust and brake.

Used recommended MERCON ATF, filled to the bottom of the filler hole as usual for Ford Vehicles. Linkage looks intact just doesn’t wanna move.

 

[misfitAK]

linkage is fine. gonna go and fully remove it. bushing is cracked but it’s a 35 year old car. can i shift the transmission with a screw driver from the linkage hole?

 

[misfitAK]

Figured it out, turns out if you cross thread the drain plug, it interferes with something else and makes it so you can’t shift at all? tested it a couple times with the plug in and out and it was the issue, fixed that and were good to go.

 

[denisond3]

On my 2nd gens, the shifting amounts to sliding the short piece of shaft that sticks out of the transmission to select 1st or 3rd or 5th, and slightly turning she shaft to select whether I would be getting 1-2 or 3-4 or 5th-reverse. But to do that I would have to be under the car.. The same motions would have to occur if I were using s screwdriver stuck down into the shifter socket in the console from inside the car.

 

[1982 EXPert]

Problem was likely the drain plug, it has a locating pin that prevents you from shifting through all gears if removed while in gear or changed gears while removed. Problem is that's a hard fix without disassembly of the transmission and if you cross-threaded it that's probably because the part it locks into isn't in the place it should be anymore - you'll probably have to open up your MTX

 

[misfitAK]

Problem was likely the drain plug, it has a locating pin that prevents you from shifting through all gears if removed while in gear or changed gears while removed. Problem is that's a hard fix without disassembly of the transmission and if you cross-threaded it that's probably because the part it locks into isn't in the place it should be anymore - you'll probably have to open up your MTX

I got it fixed thankfully! just held it straight on and made sure it didn't shift side to side