I have an 2005 V6 Mustang with 35,000 miles and it's about 38 months old.
A few months ago the shifts became more difficult. Occasionally it's almost impossible to shift into first. I've also had problems with the other gears. I've noticed that as the outside temperatures drop (below 75 F) or the car is cold (in the morning) the shifts become easier.
I don't know too much about cars. Although I feel a clutch should last more than 35,000 miles.
I hope your familiar with manual transmission cars. You can burn your clutch in less than 35000 miles if you rest your foot on clutch all the time, i know this kid who destroyed his clutch in a week on fox body mustang. But if thats not the case, it happened to me before that my Daytona wouldnt go to 1st gear, i had to start from 2nd because it was embarrassing in traffic that i couldnt move the car. So i took it to the shop and they had to change my bushings, hope your problem is as easy as mine. Good Luck
Thanks for the reply. But, no, I don't rest my foot on the clutch. In fact I make an effort to keep my left foot away from the clutch so that doesn't happen.
I should also mention that ~30,000 of the 35,000 miles are highway miles just cruising along with minimal shifts.
So does anyone have an opinion on what's wrong?
Are others having issues with the clutch on these cars?
Also, I read somewhere that a guy was having issues with his 2001 (or 2002?) Mustang and replaced the clutch with an aftermarket clutch. He saw a big improvement in shifting ease after the swap.
Have you replaced the tranny fluid yet? The interval should be 30K, but I've been told that 25K is the best idea to help the tranny last longer.
No I haven't. There is nothing in my service schedule (part of the manual that came with the car) about changing tranny fluid on manual transmissions. There is a service for autos at 30,000 miles though.
I brought the car to a Ford dealer today and they told me the clutch was shot and quoted me $900. The one mechanic did say he'd expect a clutch to last 60,000 - 100,000 miles and that 35,000 seemed premature. Ford Customer Care told me there was nothing they could do for me.
I guess I'm just a bit upset because I've had a bunch of problems with the car.
1. A/C Compresser shot immediately after purchase (fixed)
2. Rattles in the dash (took it in 8 times in first three years, never really fixed)
3. Fuel Tank fills half way sometimes (never fixed)
4. E-Brake stuck (fixed)
5. Radio had to be replaced (fixed)
6. Clutch at 35,000 miles
I grew up in Detroit, MI and went to car shows at Ford's World Headquarters. Ever since I remember I've wanted a Mustang. I worked like crazy in college to get a good job. I bought this car shortly after I landed my first job three years ago. And ever since I've just kept having problems.
I'm at 24k miles and my shifting has just been completely trashed lately.. 1st won't engage, 2nd is hard enough. Sometimes I have to throw it in 2nd, just move the car a foot and throw it in first and I'm good to go. Let me know what happens at the dealership. It feels like the bushings are shot, not my clutch. I'd check that first
I'm at 24k miles and my shifting has just been completely trashed lately.. 1st won't engage, 2nd is hard enough. Sometimes I have to throw it in 2nd, just move the car a foot and throw it in first and I'm good to go. Let me know what happens at the dealership. It feels like the bushings are shot, not my clutch. I'd check that first
You're the second person to mention bushings. I was planning on taking it somewhere else for a second opinion anyways. Like I said, I'm not very familiar with clutches. What's the difference between bushings being shot and the entire clutch being shot?
Assuming the clutch is bad, I'd prefer not to replace it with an OEM clutch seeing as how quick the first one went. Can anyone recommend a good [reliable] replacement clutch?
If it's difficult to engage gears, that would suggest synchro's.
That was my next guess.. The Ford dealership automatically said that they will have to rebuild the tranny. Mind you, they hadn't even sat in the car when they said this. So I am not too sure I want to pay for my tranny to be rebuilt if they don't take a look at anything
Dealerships in Vegas (not just Ford) have been known to be out of their mind though.. Most enthusiasts go to So Cal or St George to get any cars
You're the second person to mention bushings. I was planning on taking it somewhere else for a second opinion anyways. Like I said, I'm not very familiar with clutches. What's the difference between bushings being shot and the entire clutch being shot?
Thank you,
Ryan
If your clutch is shot your gears would slip. For the manual transmission cars they have 2 cables (i forgot their names) which makes you go left and right in neautral and one making you go up down to 1st 2nd gear. Mine was a bit of diferent story i was driving in 5th gear that my bushings were shot and all of sudden the gear lever would go anywhere freely up down left right without even applying clutch. So replaced that with a new cable and tight the other one with a rop temporary after while the car didnt go to 1st gear at all so changed my bushings with polyphonic ones and it was a magic the car shifts smooth and awsome. I can be lots of things so take it to a transmission shop not Ford and since they dont care about warranty, they will give you the right answer
Yeah, the manual that came with my car didn't say anything about manual trannies either, but I called up the dealership and they told me the interval. Even my wifes Five Hundred doesn't list the tranny interval for her car, I had to find that out from the dealer also.
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If your clutch is shot your gears would slip. For the manual transmission cars they have 2 cables (i forgot their names) which makes you go left and right in neautral and one making you go up down to 1st 2nd gear. Mine was a bit of diferent story i was driving in 5th gear that my bushings were shot and all of sudden the gear lever would go anywhere freely up down left right without even applying clutch. So replaced that with a new cable and tight the other one with a rop temporary after while the car didnt go to 1st gear at all so changed my bushings with polyphonic ones and it was a magic the car shifts smooth and awsome. I can be lots of things so take it to a transmission shop not Ford and since they dont care about warranty, they will give you the right answer
There are NO cables in your manual shifter, transmission or (hydraulic)clutch.
What is a "polyphonic" bushing? Polyphonic is an audio term meaning more than one voice. Do you mean polyurethane?
@marshall_series
I remember you posting clips of you doing donuts an burnouts. If you have trans issues, I'd say your most likely the cause
Here's the stock shifter next to a short throw ... no cables
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There are NO cables in your manual shifter, transmission or (hydraulic)clutch.
What is a "polyphonic" bushing? Polyphonic is an audio term meaning more than one voice. Do you mean polyurethane?
@marshall_series
I remember you posting clips of you doing donuts an burnouts. If you have trans issues, I'd say your most likely the cause
Here's the stock shifter next to a short throw ... no cables
Oh boy sorry my bad i just remembered poly bushings so threw something out Yeah thats right its Polyurethane bushings. However manual tranny cars mights be different, the example i had was from my previous 1991 Dodge Daytona 5spd that had two cables and i just looked at my chart and the names are Selector and Crossover cable. So Mustang could be different.
Anyway let us know if you found the answer to your question