1997 Ford Explorer XL Transmission Issue

[derran.m]

Picked up said truck yesterday... got it for a great deal so what if it's a Ford and it doesn't go forwards?

Anyways ... V6 4x4 Explorer, 214,x.. km on it. Automatic transmission was rebuilt just 5k km ago in April 2010.

It will only go into reverse - most of the time. We managed to get it going in D last night, but that ended up being strictly a fluke, because it will not do it again. I have checked the transmission fluid, it is super clean and good level.
I've checked the e-brake cable and the brakes, nothing is seized up or anything so it's nothing super simple like that...must be a ford lol

What can I do to try to diagnose and repair this? What are some possibilities? I've never had a Ford or a 4WD so transfer case etc is very much out of my knowledge at this point.

When playing around, I have tried all drive options - D, 2, 1 - as well as the 4wd options - 4H, 4L, 2wd. Nothing changes. I can get it into reverse in any of the above, but it will not go forwards.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[drdoom]

Can you take it back to the re-builder?

 

[derran.m]

I can, but at a cost as it was only a 1 year warranty that they offered. And I just have a serious hunch that this is nothing major. Something tells me it's something as minor as a broken cable or an electrical issue, poor connection, something like that. The fact that it was driving perfectly fine once leads me away from the transmission being the issue. My knowledge and history has taught me that either a tranny is toast or its fine ... not sporadic like this. But who knows, maybe eventually i will find out that is the case and I will have learned something new LOL