'91 transmission problem

[BIG REED]

i just got a '91 explorer 4x4 w/ a 4.0 eng. and auto tranny.

the problem is when i put the tranny in R it does nothing, just like its in P. then when i put it in N it drives forward like it is in OD and shifts fine. od-1 work normally also. but no R or N.

any chance i dont need to just replace this tranny?

 

[Glacier991]

it sounds like your shift linkage is all screed up....or the Z link is unhooked....

Don't give up on the trans when it might be as simple as that

 

[BrooklynBay]

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155599

 

[BIG REED]

this z link, do i need to just pull the tranny pan to see it? or pull the tranny out?

as far as linkage, is there something i can just reach up on the tranny and select gears like i can on my old tf 727 in my dodge? - im not used to cable shifting trannys.

thanks for the help

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! You have to pull the pan to see the Z link. You don't have to remove the entire transmission. The linkage cable is located on the driver's side of the transmission just a little above the pan in the middle. You have the main linkage for P R OD D 2 1, and the one for kick down which is connected to the throttle pedal.

 

[Glacier991]

And yes, with the cable disconnected you can hand shift the tranny... I'd not recommend you crawl under tha truck and do that unless it was on a hoist with all tires off the ground.

 

[BIG REED]

ok i pulled up on some ramps in the front, put the back on jackstands, and i can see that the shifter cables is doing its job fine, but when i put the explorer in reverse (from park) the wheels rotate forward about 1/2 turn then lock in place (same as park).

still thinking "z"link?

im going to pull the pan tonight after work to see what i can see.

 

[BIG REED]

ok i pulle dthe tranny pan last night, the pan didnt have any debis, hardly any shavings. the z link is still in there, it does look a little "sloppy" where it goes int the manual valve index. the z link kind of slides deeper into it just a little and is looser than i imagined it would have been, but im going to play with that part a little more this weekend.

also, my manual valve index does not have that "notched" end like the one in that link. whats that all about?

at what point should i quit fooling around with this and just get another tranny?

thanks

 

[Glacier991]

The stock manual valve did not come with an "indexer". That is a sonnax aftermarket part. Still I have trouble thinking the hole is SO elongated that you do not have reverse.

I'd put a pressure gauge on it and see what my line pressures do in the various gears. Your no neutral sounds very odd. THAT is pure and simple a linkage or manual valve problem. (To the best of my knowledge in A4LD's - and I know them pretty well.)

 

[BIG REED]

anything else i should check out while i have the tranny pan off before it goes back on to check the pressure?

it definetlly doesnt look sloppy enough to miss any gears, even if it were, wouldnt i loose the gears on either end of the range (ie p and 1)

thanks for all the help so far.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Check for a cracked valve body gasket, and loose valve body bolts. Use an In/LB torque wrench on those bolts.