# 1996 Ford Ranger clutch **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford, ranger\ **Created:** [January 11, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317 "2020-01-11T15:41:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JamesMcGrail](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/a88e57/32.png) [@JamesMcGrail](https://community.cartalk.com/u/JamesMcGrail)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 3:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/1 "2020-01-11T15:41:48Z")
I have a 1996 Ford Ranger pickup truck, 4 cyl. engine, manual 5 speed transmission. The shifting has become very very difficult. Engine runs well. 215000 miles. Is the master or slave cylinder bad, or is the clutch no good? And how do I tell? And how much for a new clutch? And where do I get a clutch that old? ---
**Author:** ![VOLVO-V70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8e8cbc/32.png) [@VOLVO-V70](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VOLVO-V70)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/2 "2020-01-11T15:51:29Z")
> [@JamesMcGrail](#): > > And how much for a new clutch? And where do I get a clutch that old? Just check with one of your local parts stores and you will have the answer . If you are not going to do this yourself most shops can solve this. ---
**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/3 "2020-01-11T18:00:37Z")
At that age and mileage and you plan to keep the truck, might be wise to replace all clutch related parts, if clutch is the problem. ---
**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 8:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/4 "2020-01-11T20:35:53Z")
A typical clutch replacement on a low priced car is about $1500 or so. Budget at least for that amount! ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 8:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/5 "2020-01-11T20:39:51Z")
If you can shift thru the gears without the engine running, but shifting is difficult while the engine is running points to a clutch master cylinder leaking internally. Tester ---
**Author:** ![Rod-Knox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Rod-Knox](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Rod-Knox)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/6 "2020-01-11T21:04:59Z")
If the problem isn’t taken care of soon the transmission will take an expensive beating. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/7 "2020-01-11T21:55:22Z")
It’s unlikely to be the clutch. Have the master and slave cylinders, and the hydraulic lines checked for leaks. ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/8 "2020-01-12T00:01:54Z")
If it has an internal slave cylinder like mine doe’s the transmission has to be pulled to get to it & with that many mile’s it would pay to put a new clutch in as the labor is already done. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 12:29am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/9 "2020-01-12T00:29:26Z")
Yeah, I suspected something along those lines. I was just hoping the OP could avoid the added expense for now. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2020, 2:43am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1996-ford-ranger-clutch/156317/10 "2020-01-12T02:43:56Z")
When my clutch master cylinder develops an internal leak on my Corolla – this has happened three times in 27 years – the first symptom is it’s difficult to shift into first from neutral at idle. But pumping the clutch pedal a few times before doing the shift makes it as easy as before. So that’s a test you could try. I should add that when this problem first appears, the car can become un-drivable within days. So it has to be addressed asap. Replacing the clutch MC has always fixed it for me straight-away. Common sense says to first verify the clutch fluid level is correct.