I have a 2001 Tribute DX 4 cyl 5 speed manual trans. Recently I've been noticing that, at seemingly random times, it's tough to move the shifter into gears. The pedal seems to go down fine but there is some resistance when trying to switch gears. This may occur one moment then the rest of the drive is fine but I've noticed it seems to be happening a little more often.

I'm taking it to get looked at tomorrow but I'd like a heads up if anyone has any suggestions or ideas so that I have half an idea when I speak to the mechanics.

 

Well I had the truck looked at. They diagnosed it as needing a new clutch and slave cylinder. They are getting a master cylinder just on the off chance they need it but they don't figure it needs replacing.

Does this sound like a reasonable diagnosis based on the symptoms above?

 

If the clutch itself was part of the problem then you should have been noticing some slippage after the shift. Quick and easy test of the clutch working properly is to shift into third gear at a stop, raise engine rpm to 3000 and then pop your foot off of the clutch pedal. If the engine stalls immediately then the clutch is doing its job just fine. If rpms slowly drop or engine does not stall then sign that clutch is starting to slip and needs replaced.
Clutch slave cylinder leaking or otherwise loosing hydraulic pressure would sound more like the shifting difficulty you are having. Could at least replace the slave cylinder first and see if shifting returns to normal for you. It is a heck of a lot less expensive than a new clutch assembly.

 

That is very interesting. Ok. I think the mech described the slave cylinder leaking as the likely culprit but he also said the clutch should be replaced as well. One clue he said was that after pressing the clutch in all the way then shifting, when you let off the clutch, you almost let off all the way before it starts catching. Does this sound correct.

I`m at 180,000 km (|120,000 miles) and I know the clutch hasn`t been replaced yet.

 

Clutch engagement at the very top end of the pedal travel would be an indication of a clutch that is worn. Not necessarily slipping yet but worn. At 120k miles, would not at all be surprised of that kind of wear to be evident. Air in the hydraulic system due to slave cylinder leakage would be the oposite in that the pedal would engage very close to the floor if you were able to engage at all.