99 F250 V10 Drive engages at random
 

So I'm having a rather odd problem with my truck. As I said, 99 Superduty V10 4x4 auto. I can physically shift fine, but it acts like drive, 2nd, or 1st don't engage. Reverse works every time, but when you go to drive it does nothing, acts like your still in neutral. I shift it through the gears but it won't engage. It doesn't do it all the time, just at really bad times(like parking lots, pulling out of driveways, etc. There is no ryme or reason to it. Sometimes you put it in park and back to drive and your gtg, other times you can cyle through the gears for 5min and go nowhere.

When it does engage, its after its rev'd a little high (about 15-1700rpms) but reving up catch it everytime. Today I drove it a few times with no issue, then it just wouldn't catch.
The overview:
-not everytime
-always goes into reverse, park and neutral
-good fluid level
-D, 2nd, 1st act the same, only engages sometimes
-no issues with P, R, or N
-acts fine once its actually in gear - acceleration normal
-little over 100,000 - don't know the last time trans filter was changed

I'm thinking some type of psi solenoid going out, and/or the filter and fluid needs changed. I don't know alot about auto's, but I know they work off psi changes. It just "feels" like a pressure issue. If it was mechanical or electrical I wouldn't expect it to be this intermittant.

Thank you very much for any info or ideas,

Brian

Is the OD-off light flashing?

Could be the switch on the side of the tranny that tells the PCM what gear you selected.

Could be lots of things. Some easy, some horrible. But definitely sounds electrical or pressure-related. If the OD light is flashing, get the codes read and go from there.

there aren't any lights, and today everything worked just fine. its been doing this, so i'm expecting it to not engage next time I really need it...

maybe change the filter and fluid and go from there. im dealing with the same exact issue with a 98 explorer i got, if i figure anything out i will post up for you.


some guys have suggested my forward drum is worn out.

I have this problem in my 03...my code is for the Output Speed Sensor. My OD light flashes though. But like yours, only does it every so often, then the light will flash, and when I'm not haing this problem the light it off, but my CEL is still on.