gears not engaged, even in park.

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

Couple days ago, I was about to start up my truck and realized that I left my key in the "ON" position since the night before to pull codes to be sure there were no codes for the inspection and that killed the battery. So I jumped the battery, got it started and put it in drive then.......didn't move, revved the engine, the speedometer moved up to 10 mph but didn't go anywhere. Shifted up to put in park, a grinding feeling happened (I am deaf, mind you) My wife could hear it from inside the house. At that time, I thought it couldn't be the tranny cuz I had it rebuilt 2 years ago. I tested to see if the gears have been at all engaged....nope the truck is still in neutral.....I could just push it and it rolls while the shifter is in park. So, what is it? transfer case? solenoid? shifter motor? Neutral Safety switch? Please, help, I really need to get it fixed soon and by MYSELF, can't afford shop right now. Any guidance will be greatly appreciated.

 

[IZwack]

Probably the transfer case - which, as we've witnessed on the forum, has a tendency to "reset" itself if you disconnect the battery. So try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. To make it easier for the transfer case to go back to its default mode/gear, put the transmission in Neutral. If it still does not engage, with the transmission still in Neutral, engine started and foot on the brake, switch the transfer case to 4LO and then back out (to AUTO/4HI).

FYI - that gear grinding sound when you were putting it in Park is the transmission's rotating parts coming to a halt - which would normally not be rotating because the tires (via transfer case, driveshaft, and axle) should have kept it still. This grinding noise is a typical symptom of a transfer case that is still in the Neutral position (that is, between LO and HI range). To minimize transmission damage when the transfer case is stuck in Neutral, first shut off the engine and wait a minute or so before shifting the transmission into Park - this time period should allow the rotating transmission parts to come to a halt.

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

Probably the transfer case - which, as we've witnessed on the forum, has a tendency to "reset" itself if you disconnect the battery. So try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. To make it easier for the transfer case to go back to its default mode/gear, put the transmission in Neutral. If it still does not engage, with the transmission still in Neutral, engine started and foot on the brake, switch the transfer case to 4LO and then back out (to AUTO/4HI).

FYI - that gear grinding sound when you were putting it in Park is the transmission's rotating parts coming to a halt - which would normally not be rotating because the tires (via transfer case, driveshaft, and axle) should have kept it still. This grinding noise is a typical symptom of a transfer case that is still in the Neutral position (that is, between LO and HI range). To minimize transmission damage when the transfer case is stuck in Neutral, first shut off the engine and wait a minute or so before shifting the transmission into Park - this time period should allow the rotating transmission parts to come to a halt.

thanks for the quick response! quick question you said "switch the TC to 4 low then BACK OUT" meaning to drive the truck in reverse?

 

[Kevlar7R]

no, he means back out of 4 lo, in to auto 4 hi, or 2wd.

Your tcase automatically manages engagement when in the 4 hi(auto) setting. It does it manually in 4 low.

On a side note, if your battery went dead, you may need to do a drive cycle, or drive the truck around for a few days before you can do inspection. Check to see if you have any monitors "not ready."

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

Probably the transfer case - which, as we've witnessed on the forum, has a tendency to "reset" itself if you disconnect the battery. So try disconnecting the battery for a few minutes. To make it easier for the transfer case to go back to its default mode/gear, put the transmission in Neutral. If it still does not engage, with the transmission still in Neutral, engine started and foot on the brake, switch the transfer case to 4LO and then back out (to AUTO/4HI).

FYI - that gear grinding sound when you were putting it in Park is the transmission's rotating parts coming to a halt - which would normally not be rotating because the tires (via transfer case, driveshaft, and axle) should have kept it still. This grinding noise is a typical symptom of a transfer case that is still in the Neutral position (that is, between LO and HI range). To minimize transmission damage when the transfer case is stuck in Neutral, first shut off the engine and wait a minute or so before shifting the transmission into Park - this time period should allow the rotating transmission parts to come to a halt.

Good news and Bad news, your instructions helped and the truck moves! Unfortunely, it has no reverse I had the similar problem awhile back but worked fine till now. Also the 4x4 switches don't work now. My truck has the buttons not the manual shifter. Module?

 

[Kevlar7R]

That grinding sound your wife heard from inside..... Had you just shifted from a forward gear to reverse possibly?

 

[IZwack]

Good news and Bad news, your instructions helped and the truck moves! Unfortunely, it has no reverse I had the similar problem awhile back but worked fine till now. Also the 4x4 switches don't work now. My truck has the buttons not the manual shifter. Module?

That's good to hear I guess - at least you're where you were a while back . As for the no-reverse problem, that is usually attributed to the transmission (perhaps a broken band, low pressure, etc..). This thread is a good start, while not exactly the same transmission model, the diagnosis and parts apply : http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268475

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

That's good to hear I guess - at least you're where you were a while back . As for the no-reverse problem, that is usually attributed to the transmission (perhaps a broken band, low pressure, etc..). This thread is a good start, while not exactly the same transmission model, the diagnosis and parts apply : http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=268475

Alrighty, I'll check that out. Hope its a quick fix. Thanks again for your help.

 

[Kevlar7R]

im afraid that you may have shifted a spinning transmission in to reverse and done some mechanical damage.

Can your wife listen to the sounds it makes when trying to move in reverse and tell us what she hears?

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

im afraid that you may have shifted a spinning transmission in to reverse and done some mechanical damage.

Can your wife listen to the sounds it makes when trying to move in reverse and tell us what she hears?

This is the wife...In park, there is a dull whining sound...not necessarily a grinding, but there is a groaning/whining sound...when shifted to reverse, this sound becomes even worse. When shifted to drive, no sound and the truck drives just fine. When shifting back through reverse to park, both reverse and park make the whining sound fairly loud and it sounds bad. There is no sound at all in neutral or drive.

 

[Kevlar7R]

that really sounds to me like physical damage to the transmission has occurred.

If it were just transfercase, the sound would be the same in either forward or reverse, since either way you are loading up the gears, and the torque converter is slipping.
If it were just the torque converter, the sound would be the same basically all the time.


If it were me, I would quit messing with it and have it towed to a reputable transmission shop.... But that is just my opinion... And I am certainly not a transmission expert.

Anyone else want to weigh in on this?

 

[Kevlar7R]

I just reread your original post... You revved it in drive, then back to park, which requires you to go through reverse as well.

I hate to say it, but I believe you hand-grenaded the transmission.

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

I just reread your original post... You revved it in drive, then back to park, which requires you to go through reverse as well.

I hate to say it, but I believe you hand-grenaded the transmission.

I waited till the rpm went down then shifted to park with the grinding. Yep, I did mess up my tranny, I will have to buy one from the junk yard and install it myself.

 

[Kevlar7R]

Sorry man, that sucks....

One time years ago I was towing with a GMC van. Went to shift from 2nd back to drive. I missed, overshot and hit reverse while going 65. Transmission was DRT (Dead right there). I was so pissed at myself.

 

[Deaf_Ford_Driver]

Sorry man, that sucks....

One time years ago I was towing with a GMC van. Went to shift from 2nd back to drive. I missed, overshot and hit reverse while going 65. Transmission was DRT (Dead right there). I was so pissed at myself.

now that makes me feel better Just kidding. I have gone thru tranny woes alotta times in my life. Sh*t happens. That's what life does to you. Accept it and move on.