No First Gear

[Slicef96]

I have a 92 eddie Bauer 4wd. The tranny seems to be missing first gear. I think it is starting in second. If I drop the grar selector to 1 I feel it downshift. after that it seems okay. I had it to Ford and all they could tell me is they want to rebuild it. Truth is the car is not worth the money it would take so I want to get as much out of this car before I lose the tranny completely.

Any thoughts on what could be wrong and my best course of action?

FYI: I have changed the tranny oil (both drpo pan and fill and a full flush.)

Thanks in advance
-tm

 

[BrooklynBay]

The rear low/reverse servo controls both low gear, and reverse. How does reverse feel? You could replace the servo seals with the Transtec Viton D ring kit. Sometimes the tip of the servo gets chipped. The governor controls the 1-2 shift. It could be sticking. Does this only happen when it's cold or all of the time?

 

[Slicef96]

I have never noticed problem with reverse. your response did remind me though ... when she is cold she will periodically fall out of gear. most often when I am rinning slon or coasting to a stop. It will go back in gear if I rev it to about 2000 RPMs.

 

[BrooklynBay]

Start with cleaning or replacing the governor, and the low/reverse servo seals. The next step would be a valve body rebuild.