T5 Problems Share Stories

[1986LX2002]

Hey guys, I've toasted 2 fully rebuilt T5's in less than 6 months. And I have no idea how! Its turning into a really bad and expensive nightmare. The car is bone stock and is only putting out 180hp and 230lbs to the wheels "had it put up on a dyno". But so far i've snapped the mainshaft and killed the 2nd gear cluster or whatever. I dont power shift, side step the clutch, never missed a gear, or row the gears all too fast. But the guy that did the tranny isnt going to warrenty it because he said its been "abused" but only 2nd gear is bad the rest of the tranny is fine. For about a month the car has been harder than hell to shift into any gear and i took it too him. He said that because its cold outside the tranny isnt warmed up and so thats why its hard. Now that him being the "pro" i was like well whatever, considering i had too jam it into gear each time but he drove my car and said "there is nothing wrong with it". So 8 hours after picking up the car from the shop, i pull out and blow 2nd gear "under normal driving". I'am now really screwed i'm having a Ford Racing tranny installed tomorrow but i'm really pissed because i didnt purposly kill the tranny and am really in debt now!!. "i'll post pics of the damage on my website"

 

[sleeper89]

that sucks man, sounds like your tranny guy hosed you. i really don't think the "too cold" excuse cuts it. if it was hard to shift something else was already wrong.

-steve

 

[powertrax91]

I feel your pain. looks like you got hosed , a rebuilt t-5 done properly is as good as new.

 

[wildstang347]

u definitely got screwed........a stock T5 will generally stand up to 400hp for a period of time as long as u avoid the slicks.
mine held together for 2 years without slicks and grenaded after 5 passes with slicks before makeing me switch it out.

 

[stangman8825]

If it was hard to shift it makes you wonder what fluid he put in it...

 

[leakyfaucet]

That's terrible. So you are putting in a brand new one?

What's the best fluid? I drained whatever red stuff the guy before me had in, and put in GM syncromesh, now it grinds 4th gear when its cold, and it never did before. RARELY it would grind 3rd when cold with the old fluid.

Any fluid suggestions based on my symptoms?

 

[stangman8825]

I run ATF in my T-5 and I don't have a lick of shifting problems....

 

[ashford]

im a professional truck mechanic but got my start on cars ive rebuilt 13 speed tranies before witout problems. that guy screwed you, or he dont know what hes doing. i took a t5 out of a 4 banger and threw it behind 350 horse power. (awesome gear ratio's in that tranny 4:1 first) it lasted only 2 months, rebuilt it and have been driving on it for 2 years. if that guy used gear oil don't take anymore work to him, every t5 i've taken apart thats bad had gear oil and ever one i've taken apart thats good had atf in it. what i do is add limited slip additive to the atf, that knocks the gl rating up a notch ( and yes atf has a gear lube rating to, it dextron3 is a gl-2) havnt had a problem since