Definitely have a problem with second gear when I downshift. I'm real gentle on my clutch and I watched it today, I downshifted to second gear, let off the clutch and halfway through the engine compressing to higher RPMS, it pops out of gear and starts grinding. It happens even more when I'm coasting in neutral and then I'm at a speed where I need to engage second gear (such as a light turning green) press the clutch, put it in second, halfway through engaging the gear, it pops out and starts grinding.

It doesn't pop out of gear when I'm engaged in second gear and driving along. It only pops out when I downshift or if I upshift fast. If I'm gentle when I upshift it's fine. It doesn't even work if I hold the shifter in place when I downshift because it will still pop out and start grinding.

Does this sound like a need-a-new-trans issue or maybe i can get off with an inexpensive fix?

 

Sounds like a shot syncro

 

My car did this brand new [:@] A new shifter would also help because ours suck!

 

Ford service told me on the phone it sounds like a shot syncro too. I have no more warranty. Estimated repair cost $1800.

 

If you're a gear head, it isn't that hard to replace yourself. But you'd have better luck shopping around for a shop to do it for way less! Pullinga tranny should only take a few hours. You'd want to find a shop that has a low hourly rate. Ford is way overpriced!

 

The last time I put a tranny in an old Pontiac Bonneville, I feel asleep under the car because it was taking too long and I was doing it alone LOL

 

Yikes lol! Help is always best! Helped pull a Honda tranny most recently to change a clutch. Took about 10 hours including pulling, replacing, trips to the store, lunch and dinner breaks and putting it all back together. Also did a 76 Blazer swap (auto to manual) uncluding replacing the transfer case from a constant 4wd to 2wd & 4wd. That took a whole weekend. Trying to do tasks like this alone is not the best, safest choice.