So I have an 07 focus zx3 s. 5Speed manual. I recently. swapped to a different tranny due to me loosing 1st 3rd and 5th! Leaving me only with 2nd 4th and reverse. Then it swapped to where I had 2nd 4th and reverse. Then I lost all gears. Well I found a used tranny off of an 05. I was told it only had 55k on it. I have 105k. I replaced the tranny, clutch, and I had to replace my drivers side axle Cuz metal shavings got it stuck inside the. Old tranny. I've put about 15k mikes on it and it started to act up again 2day. I couldn't get it to go into 2nd or 4th. But now its working fine again. Only thing is it feels tight when you go to put it in 1st. It engages but it feels tight. Every other gear feels great. I was told that it may be my cables need tightened? I'm just trying to figure out if anyone knows what I need to do or if anyone has experienced this? Please help. Don't want to have to spend the money to swap another tranny. Thanks Brent!

Did you check the adjustment on your shift cables?

Did you check the adjustment on your shift cables?

I have rebuilt manual trannys for over 30 years and I concur. A simultansous loss of 1st, 3rd and 5th is definitely caused by an external shift mechanicals travel problem (when shifter is in the forward position), not transmission internals. Trannys don't fail that way beause separate internal hardware is involved with 1&3 vs 5th. A loss of 2nd and 4th is the same issue, but due to insufficient travel in the opposite direction. This sounds like a cable or shifter mechanicals issue that existed before the swap and continues to haunt you. The problem could be the cable(s) or interface at the tranny end or the shifter end or even multiple issues. It could be something out of adjustment, loose or defective. I have no particular knowledge of the Focus manual setup so I don't know the likely failure modes. But I've seen such issues many times. Hopefully you didn't swap out a good tranny and install a bad one!

Maybe you better drop your tranny swap wrenches and figure out how the external shift mechanicals operate. It might be cheaper to change every shifter part if you're not sure. Every inch you drive the car in this state the tranny is being damaged internally due to insufficient gear engagement.

Good luck.

There is a tool from Ford to set or adjust your shift cables.

I will walk over to the parts room later and get a number off the tool, its made by rotunda.