4R question for the tranny gurus

[IrnBru]

History: 2000 Ranger 2wd 2.5, 103000 miles. I had the valvebody replaced a couple years ago, no problems. Don't know if they did anything to the reverse servo. Recently the truck has been slow to engage reverse in the morning. No problems later in the day. I ordered a new reverse servo d-ring kit from transmission parts USA but haven't installed it yet. This morning it did something different. Reverse engaged slow as usual then I had no 1st for probably 5 seconds.

Question: Am I still looking at a reverse servo problem or is this symptoms of a blown gasket instead? I'm thinking the delayed 1st is caused by pressure loss from the reverse servo leaking since the tranny functions normally other than this.

 

[imp]

History: 2000 Ranger 2wd 2.5, 103000 miles. I had the valvebody replaced a couple years ago, no problems. Don't know if they did anything to the reverse servo. Recently the truck has been slow to engage reverse in the morning. No problems later in the day. I ordered a new reverse servo d-ring kit from transmission parts USA but haven't installed it yet. This morning it did something different. Reverse engaged slow as usual then I had no 1st for probably 5 seconds.

Question: Am I still looking at a reverse servo problem or is this symptoms of a blown gasket instead? I'm thinking the delayed 1st is caused by pressure loss from the reverse servo leaking since the tranny functions normally other than this.

A leaking seal on a servo piston cannot "bleed away" enough fluid to cause significant system pressure loss. A crumbled-away piston might. If this, no reverse at all, so unlikely. imp

 

[IrnBru]

A leaking seal on a servo piston cannot "bleed away" enough fluid to cause significant system pressure loss. A crumbled-away piston might. If this, no reverse at all, so unlikely. imp

Hmmm...so maybe it is a blown gasket. One thing I forgot to add is my driveway is very very steep. That may have nothing to do with it but after the truck is driven or parked at work on level ground it's fine.