ford ranger 2008 auto, 3.0tdci, speedo stopped working and wont shift out of 4th

[mservice]

hi guys

I have an intermittent problem with my ranger - the speedon stops working and the transmission wont shift to any forward gears leaving the vehicle in 4th. reverse engages fine... but no 1/2/3 or O/D

Both occur simultaneously and Ford say its not the VSS (they dont know whats causing it which really irritates me)