I checked fluid levels and its fine. It doesn't smell burned and its the proper color.

It shifts into reverse fine and neutral but when I go to Drive, it will not engage until I hit almost 2k RPMS and then it jerks into gear and runs fine. I can drop it into L and it will pop into first easy and then I can manually shift back into D and it works fine. The OD light did flash the other day (now its off) but my scanner cant get transmission codes. It seems to be shifting harder than usual as well.

Is this a simple fix or will it need a complete overhaul?

 

It would really help if you had transmission codes. It would also help if we knew which transmission we're talking about. Find the transmission code on the data tag in the driver's door opening. It's under TR. There will be either a U or an E.

 

Its an "E" transmission and I have no way to get the code. My OBD scanner wont pull tranny codes and none of the stores in town have one that will read them either. Advance auto has stopped reading codes of any kind.

The local shops have quoted well over 2k for a rebuilt unit and I just dont have that.

 

Might be worth your money to do a little leg work and call around to find a shop that can read transmission codes. Might cost $100 but that's cheaper than rebuilding a trans that might not need it.

If nothing else a dealer can read the codes.

$2000 is cheap for a rebuild these days, but a salvage yard replacement might be another option if the trans is truly shot.

 

That's a 4R100 transmission.

Then it's going to get expensive. We have to guess at what's wrong. You keep buying the parts and we all hope that we get lucky before you run out of money. Or you could find a good independent shop or a Ford dealer that could read the codes. Then we'd know what to look at.

None of the auto parts stores could read these codes. See above.

And that might not even fix it. With the codes we could tell. Without them, all anyone can do is guess.

 

OK, bought a blue driver scanner and came up with P0781 code.

 

That code means the 1-2 shift didn't happen when the computer called for it. If no other codes are present that usually means either a sticking/stuck 1-2 shift valve in the valve body or a bad intermediate clutch.

 

Wouldn't a bad intermediate clutch leave a burned smell?
Also can someone point me in the direction of a parts supplier that sells valve body kit?

And would a 1-2 shift valve cause my problem where it doesnt go into gear unless I rev to 2k or drop down into low first.