Vehicle: 2004 Ford Ranger, 2WD, V6-3.0L VIN U, Manual Transmission/Transaxle

Mileage: 125,209 miles

Problem: The technician installed a new Ford clutch assembly and a new Ford master cylinder on the Ranger but he could not get all the air out of the clutch hydraulic system. It was so bad, he couldn’t even get the transmission into gear. He tried pressure bleeding, vacuum bleeding, and gravity bleeding the system, but nothing he tried worked.

Case Details: An ALLDATA Tech-Assist consultant provided the answer: Because of the angle the master cylinder sits at when installed, it’s easy for air to get trapped and it’s hard to remove. He recommended removing the master cylinder and bench-bleeding it before reinstalling it.

Confirmed Repair: The technician removed the master cylinder, bench-bled it then reinstalled it. He finished bleeding any remaining air from the brake line connections. He made sure the fluid level was correct, and all connections and mount bolts were tight before going for a test drive. The transmission shifted normally, and the clutch worked like new. Fixed!