I just adopted a e250 with a transmission issue. The van is stuck in 1st unless I manually shift it into second then it will shift into second.
I put a scanner on it and the computer is stating that it is in 1st gear in P,R,N,D,1. When I manually shift into 2nd it reports 2nd on the scanner. It did not report any other transmission codes.
I tried plugging in a spare electronic range selector and manually moved it with the same result.
Any help would be greatly appreciated, I am a complete moron when it comes to automatic transmissions(especially when they are as computer controlled as these)

Thanks in advance.

 

If you are looking at the wrong PID it will always show 1 when in P,R,N, D and 1. It only changes when in 2.

You need to look at PRNDL. That will tell what the range sensor is reporting.

 

Thanks for the info Mark, I will check on it this afternoon.

 

Here is some data I gathered this afternoon. But first a little more background I gathered from the PO of the van:
1)Vehicle became stuck in 1st gear.
2)He was told the transmission was toast.
3)He bought a junkyard transmission and installed it. Same result.
4)Istalled new TR assembly. No change.
4)He then installed a PCM in the van and had the dealer flash it. No change.
5)Became frustrated and sold it down the road to me.

One thing to note as well, the passenger side catalytic converter was stolen alone with the right bank oxygen sensors while it was in the PO's driveway(sweet right?). I am trying to get an answer from him as to where this falls in the timeline.

Things I have done with no change:
1)Check fuses.
2)Look at harnesses and verify connectors are attached.
3)Swapped out VSS from another Econoline rear we had laying around.
4)Verify TR selector is reporting what it should (thanks again Mark)

Scanner results:
****Ugh my data got reformatted, I will attempt to attach it so that it is readable****

So does everything here look ok? I feel that 12MPH is slow for 4k rpm in 1st but I am not that familiar with this vehicle. Hopefully someones trained eye can confirm or deny any problems here.

Thanks for looking!

 

4k RPM for 12 MPH is WAY too high. Either there is a very high (numerical) axle ratio, or the trans is slipping. What does the fluid look and smell like?

 

Mark, again thanks for the reply.
Fluid looks and smells fine currently. If it helps determine if the trans is slipping the OSS was 87 @ 650 rpm, 303 @ 2000, Didn't get it at 4000k because I wasn't comfortable running it very long at that RPM. VSS was 2 @650 rpm, and 7 @2000.

The transmission has "No Filter!" and "No fluid!" written on it from the junkyard. I think my next step is to drop the pan to at least make sure the filter is in it and change the fluid so I know it has the correct stuff in it. Not optimistic that it will solve the problem but it will give me a little piece of mind.
Talked to the PO this eve and the cat was stolen after the first trans was having a similar problem.
Could the speed sensor in the rear be giving garbage info or do these generally fail to send a signal if bad?
Any other thoughts or ideas?

 

I think the problem is that there is no filter and the pump can't pick up enough fluid. I hope that hasn't destroyed the transmission.

 

You and I both. I am going to drop the pan this evening and have a look see.

 

There was a filter in it. I flushed it out the cooler line and filled it back up with Mercon V. No change.
I am beginning to doubt the mph reading that the computer is putting out. I have the van up on stands and I was watching the rear wheels. They certainly looked like they were going faster than 6~10mph.

 

The plot thickens. The PO has installed a 4r70w out of a 2003 Expedition into the 2004 Econoline where a 4r75w used to sit. He apparently has put a different PCM in it as well since the correct one for the van is sitting in the front seat. I called ford and had them run the part # on the transmission harness and it is the correct one for the van. I have not had a chance to look at what he did as far as changing the sensors or splicing the harness.
I have dug up lots of information on the differences between the two transmissions and what people have done to swap the later 4r75w into a car that had a 4r70w in it. I haven't found any info for the situation I have.
So here are the questions. Is there a way to make this work without to much effort? Or would I be better off looking for the correct transmission and putting the original PCM back in?

 

I'd try the original PCM and see if it works.