Help needed: dead engine after transmission failure

[GJarrett]

'99 4wd SOHC w/5R55E. The old tranny blew on me last weekend. When it let go, the engine went up to 5,500 rpm or so for a few seconds before I figured out that I was essentially in neutral. I put the tranny in neutral and coasted to a stop.

At that time I tried to shift into different gears while the engine was running, but doing so confirmed that I lost all gears. Tranny fluid was all over the underside of the Explorer so I blew the tranny good (but that's okay because I still have Herc's tranny to swap in). The engine was idling fine while I was beside the road and trying to get back into gear; it ran at least a couple of additional minutes after the tranny let go, so I know it's okay. I turned the key off shutting the engine down, and got a tow home.

Now I have tried to start the engine and get nothing - zilch. Turning the key to the "start" position does absolutely nothing; it's like I'm not turning it at all. No click, no starter noise, no anything. The electrics are on because I can turn the radio on etc, but the engine is not trying to start.

Can anyone tell me what is wrong?

 

[PopRichie77]

The trans range sensor which is mounted behind the trans shift lever is probably soaked in oil or the cable is not moving the shift lever to Park or neutral. This is where I would look first for a problem.

 

[imp]

What is the point of trying to start the engine if the trans. is known to be shot? Yank it out, search for stored digital trouble codes. imp

 

[GJarrett]

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll look into it next weekend and get started.

 

[1992fordgreen]

Hey Jarret. I know your problem. You didn't hook up the starter ground wire when you put the starter back in. Popular issue that us dummies go through every now and then. Check it and see.

 

[GJarrett]

Yeah I hear ya - been there and done that and worse - but that's not it this time. This happened before I've started working on the vehicle.