yagrmyster

2000 F-150 2-WD V-6 / 4 speed w/od. 110,000 miles. Third gear syncro seems to be bad or going bad. Get repaired or swap out trans? If swapping out, is there a 5-speed (less truck like) that would work?

white89gt

Your post is a little confusing. You say you have a 4 speed with overdrive. Factory they had an M5OD-R2 in them, which is a 5 speed.

Do you mean you have a 5 speed, and 5th is OD?

akdoggie

check the shift forks first. they wear the sides off and won't upshift very good into 3rd. they also leak at the tower shift shaft plugs. Both are easy fixes if that's your problem.

white89gt

Also seen the M5OD shifter itself not allow a full engagement into 3rd, and allows it to pop out of gear on acceleration.

akdoggie

Yes sir. Seen that in my brothers 150.

yagrmyster

Guess 5-speed is it, was just going by ****, it has od where 5 would be.

yagrmyster

doesn't pop out of gear, needs to be babied into 3rd on upshift and downshift.

white89gt

Your next step is to check the fluid level. As AK said, the M5OD had a poor design in that it came with three rubber plugs up behind the shift tower. They eventually rot and crack, sometimes fall out - but they leak. The best fix is to pull them out and put freeze plugs in there, and pack them in with black silicone. In my experience, low fluid, for some reason, always affects 3rd and Reverse on the M5OD before other gears.

akdoggie

This ^^^^^

yagrmyster

Should I try changing fluid before getting into trans work?