In my 1998 f150 4.6L 5 speed manual. When I go to put it in reverse I get 1st instead, but if I do a second shift to reverse I get reverse. This happens on an average of once a week.

I know this can happen in FWD cars where you put it in one gear and get a different gear instead. Something to do with the shifting cable. But the f150 is RWD, the shifting problem only happens in reverse. Is this problem someone without ASE certificates can do, or without dropping the transmission?

I'll add to this so I dont start yet another post. Ive thought of the problem and if it was really going into 1st instead of reverse the problem likely would be bad egnough it would just stay in 1st. Its possible that Iam getting 4th gear when I go into reverse which tells me the clutch grabs really well, and its a problem I really need to fix, I dont know that much about transmissions but I do know if it keeps getting 4th instead of reverse, the clutch wont be so good pretty fast.

 

Just thought I would give an update, the problem strange egnough turned out to be the pilot bearing, while I thought it was rolling forward, it was just coasting and not really going into reverse. If I turned the engine off it would then go into reverse. It finally got to where you had to shut the engine off everytime you stopped 1st or reverse. So after having the clutch & pilot bearing replaced all is good for now.