Transmission Trouble (it quit)

[old409]

I have a 1989 ranger with 2.9 engine and automatic w/overdrive. It has the manual shift transfer case. I was driving ( going down the highway about 45 mph) and there was a snap and I lost all drive gears and reverse. I tried everything to get it moving , shifting the transfer case, all the transmission gears etc. The truck won't move. It had no symptons before it quit, no slipping, no burnt fluid, nothing at all except for a small leak.

I have rebuilt some automatic transmissions , torqueflites , th350 and a Packard Ultramatic but I know nothing about the trans in my truck. Can anyone on here give me some insight into what I might be into and what to look for? Thanks

 

[old409]

I did some reading and I'm thinking maybe it isn't the trans and that it could be thre transfer case. Anybody ever have one go out?

 

[MAKG]

Transfer case failures in RBVs are VERY rare. About the only ones I've heard of have been rock hits (you would know it), a bottoming driveshaft (likewise), or oil starvation due to leaking. You can remove it and try it out. Note that the rear output does not depend upon the chain.

This MIGHT be a broken flexplate if you're lucky. Remove the transmission and take a look. If everything looks right, then it's time to tear into the transmission. It's possible your small leak turned into a big one. If I had to guess, you've fused one or more clutch packs, and you'll need to replace it plus whatever it ate up (planetary case, for instance).

Or just get a good one at a junkyard.

 

[Ozwynn]

This MIGHT be a broken flexplate if you're lucky.

yep, did this on a 401 V8 in a wagoneer. did that exact same thing. but listen to micheal's advise.

 

[old409]

Thanks for the information. I never thought about the flex plate. as I said, this happened all at once, no slipping or anything that would hint the trans. was going out. I never had a Ford automatic and wasn't too sure about how they worked and I like to get all the information I can before I go messing around with something I'm not familiar with. Any other transmission that I ever had go on me gave a warning or started acting up.

I was on my way to get parts for my grandson's Eagle Talon AWD, I'm putting a trans. in it. This didn't happen at the best of times. Again, thanks for the information.

 

[Ozwynn]

uummmm does it roll in park?

never mind, I am thinking of something else.........

 

[Bent Bolt]

uummmm does it roll in park?

never mind, I am thinking of something else.........

Ha !!! Was just about to ask................

 

[baddis]

This MIGHT be a broken flexplate if you're lucky..

had this happen in my last 88 that i had . i was cruising down the road at 60mph with the cruise set and all of a sudden the tach went tho redline. did you have a small irritating vibration before it happened?

 

[cocoasranger]

Transmission Trouble

I also have an 89 Ranger with 2.9L engine and auto w. o.d. trans and manual transfer case. The first trans went out going down the road; replaced it with a used one. That one lost all gears after pulling out of a driveway onto the main road and spinning the wheels in the rain slightly. The second replacement was a rebuilt; lost all gears by spinning the wheels slightly taking off from a light on gravel. I tore that one apart and found a dozen needles from a bearing in the top of the trans filter.

I now have a Mazda 5 speed with the 4.0L clutch and flywheel. Good riddence to the POS A4LD trans.

 

[Ozwynn]

I now have a Mazda 5 speed with the 4.0L clutch and flywheel. Good riddence to the POS A4LD trans.

now thats the best advise you could give anybody with a stock A4LD

 

[old409]

I took the cover off that is over the torque converter and checked out the flexplate. The torque converter was turning when we started the truck. Then we took the pan down, the fluid was clean and not one piece of anything in the pan. I never had a trans go without some telltale sign of trouble.

I was hesitant to buy a Ford. My wife had a 93 Eccort that was pure junk, two motors and then the trans. went in it but it raised the devil when it went. I just bought this thing a month ago, as is, no warrenty. Funny thing is I was planning on getting a trans. and rebuilding it as I plan on keeping this truck until the end of time. The body etc. is mint except for some small rust at the rear wheel wells.Looks like I'm going to be moving my plan to rebuild the trans. up a little on my schedule. Maybe I'll get a replacement at a junk yard and use it while I rebuild the one that came in the truck.

 

[MAKG]

I tend to agree. This sounds odd.

The previously mentioned issue, "does it roll in park" will tell you if something behind the transmission is at fault. It's the transmission doing the holding. I'd try that before condemning the trans. I'd expect to see SOMEthing in the pan if a major failure had occurred.

 

[old409]

Let me ask a stupid question or two on this. This happened just like when one of my grandkids would bump my shifter into nuetral(not this vehicle). Is there any way my shift linkage could have let go and the transmission go into nuetral? I move the shft lever but is it really shifting at the trans. Is this possible on this truck? The truck is at my son's about 10 mi. away and it's too late to get him to check it. Think I'll check that out tomorrow.

The transfer case? Is there any way it could screwup and I loose both front and rear power? I know these may seem like stupid questions but my auto work was mostly on 1950 - 60's cars and a 1970's drag car and some Packard restoration. I sort of was out of cars when all this electronic junk started.

 

[freshy21]

i ahve a question my 95 auto 4.0 it wont roll in park but i ahve no other gears is it the tranny or sumthing else????????????????

 

[MAKG]

Transfer case input and planetary gear failures could cause loss of both front and rear power. However, these are rare failures. I've never seen a report of that on this board.

If the vehicle doesn't roll in park and has no forward or reverse, it's either the transmission, flexplate (likely), or serious engine damage.