help no reverse
Former ******
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,901
Likes: 2
From: Salt Lake City, Utah
Either the transmission is running low on fluid, the fluid is old, one of the bands are severely worn or broken, or the valve body is leaking internally and can't hold the pressure. Doesn't narrow it down much, so you'll need to check the fluid level and condition yourself. Beyond that, you'll need a trans shop.
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
98 ford ranger no reverse
I have 98 Ford Ranger 73K miles. Was backing up in driveway and heard a clunk. Got out to check for objects, and found nothing. Got back in truck and NO REVERSE!! I have read somewhere about replacing the o rings on an explorer that fixes the problem. Does this apply to ranger also?
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Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
I would bet that the anchor for the rear band fell out into the pan. It sits between one end of the band and the transmission case. The other end of the band is 'grabbed' by the rear apply piston rod. That would be the case unless the band snapped, or the other parts broke.
You can re-connect the parts if you drop the pan, after draining the fluid, and find pieces in the pan. The link would be a rod with one flattish end with a slight groove in the middle of the flat edge. This end pushes into a matching groove in the end of the band, the other end sits on the band adjustment screw ball-shaped tip, poking through the transmission case. The apply piston has a rod that sticks up vertically into a receiving hole in the band. You can 'fish' the parts back into place, but have no guarantee they will stay. "Something" happened to make them move around, unless the band wore enough to increase the clearance significantly[highly unlikely]
tom
You can re-connect the parts if you drop the pan, after draining the fluid, and find pieces in the pan. The link would be a rod with one flattish end with a slight groove in the middle of the flat edge. This end pushes into a matching groove in the end of the band, the other end sits on the band adjustment screw ball-shaped tip, poking through the transmission case. The apply piston has a rod that sticks up vertically into a receiving hole in the band. You can 'fish' the parts back into place, but have no guarantee they will stay. "Something" happened to make them move around, unless the band wore enough to increase the clearance significantly[highly unlikely]
tom
Last edited by tomw; Apr 29, 2009 at 07:32 AM. Reason: added desc
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New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
help no reverse
Tomw, I appreciate your response. I dropped the pan and filter but nothing found in pan, ie no broken parts. Any ideas? The fluid was pretty dirty. I am no expert but nothing looks broken or out of place. Thanks again for your advice.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,726
Likes: 10
From: down south
There is a solenoid in there that governs reverse. That solenoid or a bad wire(or unpluged wire....dont ask how I know this) could do the same thing. Garbage blocking one of the ports in the valve body or junk stopping one of the valves too. It would all have the same symptom. The linkage is pretty simple. Not much to go wrong as long as the rest is working right. Broken band would probably show up as "stuff" in the pan. From working to not working makes me think electrical before mechanical (ie garbage in the valve body).
Logistics Pro
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 4,907
Likes: 39
From: suburban atlanta
Look up at the bottom of the transmission. There should be a servo cover, a plate with 3-4 bolts that is generally circular with tabs for the bolt holes. Behind this is the servo piston. It has a rod attached that protrudes upward into a ball socket on the end of the band. The other end of the band has a slot for the widget to fit into that anchors onto the transmission case. If the band snapped or the piston broke or the rod broke free of the piston or the anchor fell out of place you would have no reverse.
A solenoid is just a electromagnet that moves a spool valve. If you want to really know what is going on, go to atsgmiami.com and order the book. You could also order a manual [CD/DVD] from Ford.
If the band broke, you would not see pieces.
"heard a clunk" says the band was being applied and failed, or it was trying to apply the band, and it released.
If you are rich with time, but poor with funds, take it out and take it apart. Lay out all the pieces in order of disassembly on clean news paper. BE VERY CAREFUL with any thrust washers, as they mostly go in only one way. It is not brain surgery.
If you get the book, you will see how complex it is.
tom
A solenoid is just a electromagnet that moves a spool valve. If you want to really know what is going on, go to atsgmiami.com and order the book. You could also order a manual [CD/DVD] from Ford.
If the band broke, you would not see pieces.
"heard a clunk" says the band was being applied and failed, or it was trying to apply the band, and it released.
If you are rich with time, but poor with funds, take it out and take it apart. Lay out all the pieces in order of disassembly on clean news paper. BE VERY CAREFUL with any thrust washers, as they mostly go in only one way. It is not brain surgery.
If you get the book, you will see how complex it is.
tom
New User
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
help no reverse
Hello Tomw. Please excuse my lack of knowledge while I explain the status of my no reverse tranny. I took out the servo cover plate. Then I removed the piston. Upon examination, it has a few 'dings' around the lower cylinder and a small scratch on the upper smaller cylinder, maybe from normal wear.
Again, nothing 'dropped' out of the pan or the cover upon removal. I downloaded the manual, but so far nothing specific on the 'no reverse'.
I do have more time than money(not much of both!), and since I will join the ranks of the unemployed in 2 weeks, I really don't want to spend $800 on the tranny.
I appreciate any advice that you or any other members can supply. Thanks.
Again, nothing 'dropped' out of the pan or the cover upon removal. I downloaded the manual, but so far nothing specific on the 'no reverse'.
I do have more time than money(not much of both!), and since I will join the ranks of the unemployed in 2 weeks, I really don't want to spend $800 on the tranny.
I appreciate any advice that you or any other members can supply. Thanks.
Look up at the bottom of the transmission. There should be a servo cover, a plate with 3-4 bolts that is generally circular with tabs for the bolt holes. Behind this is the servo piston. It has a rod attached that protrudes upward into a ball socket on the end of the band. The other end of the band has a slot for the widget to fit into that anchors onto the transmission case. If the band snapped or the piston broke or the rod broke free of the piston or the anchor fell out of place you would have no reverse.
A solenoid is just a electromagnet that moves a spool valve. If you want to really know what is going on, go to atsgmiami.com and order the book. You could also order a manual [CD/DVD] from Ford.
If the band broke, you would not see pieces.
"heard a clunk" says the band was being applied and failed, or it was trying to apply the band, and it released.
If you are rich with time, but poor with funds, take it out and take it apart. Lay out all the pieces in order of disassembly on clean news paper. BE VERY CAREFUL with any thrust washers, as they mostly go in only one way. It is not brain surgery.
If you get the book, you will see how complex it is.
tom
A solenoid is just a electromagnet that moves a spool valve. If you want to really know what is going on, go to atsgmiami.com and order the book. You could also order a manual [CD/DVD] from Ford.
If the band broke, you would not see pieces.
"heard a clunk" says the band was being applied and failed, or it was trying to apply the band, and it released.
If you are rich with time, but poor with funds, take it out and take it apart. Lay out all the pieces in order of disassembly on clean news paper. BE VERY CAREFUL with any thrust washers, as they mostly go in only one way. It is not brain surgery.
If you get the book, you will see how complex it is.
tom
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