Lost reverse and neutral became drive

[Rockytrail]

I picked up a 99 4x4 with a v6 and only 200xxxkm Ford Explorer from a moving sale for $50, yes $50 dollars. I took a gamble for that price. The rubber is worth more. I drove it home no problem, the only issue is reverse doesn't work in the tranny and the nuetral has became drive in the transmission, I watched some videos on YouTube dealing with screws and a gold plate by the steering colum, I wasn't missing any screws from there, when I drive it I can put it through all the gears and it drives starting from 1st, 2nd, and drive everything works, when I put it in reverse the lights reverse lights come on, I rev the motor up but the exploder just sits there and then when I put it in nuetral the SUV will take off like you put it in Drive gear. I checked the ATF and it was the correct level and it didn't have any silver filings in it like my f250 did when I cooked the tranny

I called a transmission shop they said it sounds like a linkage issue, the truck is scheduled for Thursday in the shop but if I could save a buck before then that would be great

Please let me know if you have any suggestions

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! It sounds like the shift cable needs to be adjusted.

 

[Rockytrail]

Is this worth taking to a transmission shop, or can it easily be done at home on your driveway?

 

[JK080]

If the reverse lights come on when the selector is in reverse the linkage is probably ok.

When a transmission wants to pull forward in all ranges the problem will most likely be with the forward drum. Sometimes the clutches will burn to a point where they weld themselves together and cant release, so it's always pulling forward. It's not that you have no reverse, reverse is there but it won't move because it is trying to pull forward and reverse at the same time so it binds. If you pay attention when the vehicle is started in park you may feel it lurch forward just a little bit but it won't move because its locked in park, just another indication the forward clutches are stuck on.

Obviously if this is the case the transmission will need to be rebuilt or replaced.

 

[Rockytrail]

Is it worth replacing the transmission one shop quoted me $3000 when I was calling around thinking of the worst case, I laughed as I hung up on the phone, cheapest I found was 2300

i was thinking a junkyard or pick your part yard depending on how difficult the transmission is to remove, I'm going to research that a little more tonight

Thanks

 

[BrooklynBay]

You could get a transmission from the junkyard for a few hundred but remember that it's old, and not rebuilt. Find out how long the warranty is good, and get it in writing.