1997 Ford Ranger Owner Guide 1st Printing - Page 173
1997 Ford Ranger Manual
Page 173 highlights
3. Put the gearshift in Neutral and wait at least 3 seconds before shifting into R (Reverse) to prevent a grinding noise. Do not release the clutch. 4. Push the gearshift all the way to the right and pull it back into Reverse. With the 5-speed transmission you can engage R (Reverse) only by moving the gearshift from the left of 3 (Third) and 4 (Fourth) gears before you shift into R (Reverse). This is a special lockout feature that protects you from accidentally shifting into R when you downshift from 5 (Fifth) gear. 5. Once R (Reverse) is engaged, slowly release the clutch pedal from the floor. If R (Reverse) is not engaged, continue to push the clutch pedal in while you put the gearshift back into Neutral. Then, release the clutch pedal for a moment and repeat steps 2 through 5. Upshifting/downshifting Upshift and downshift at the speeds that are specified in the charts. 172