Ranger 4R44E trobleshooting help needed

[v6Don]

I have a 1999 3.0 Ranger 4x2 with a 4R44E trans that I purchased a couple of years ago to do odd chores but also as a vehicle for my daughter to get around in. She has been off to college with it but recently came home with a range of issues that I have been trying to address.

She apparently ran over something that tore out the wiring on the back O2 sensor, and the ABS light was on. It wasn't shifting or running right plus the odometer wasn't working until you got to 25mph. Also the OD isn't working (no indication).

I replaced both the o2 sensor and the diff sensor. The ABS light and check engine light cleared but am still having issues with the transmission shifting.

The trouble is that there seems to be no first gear. When I start out, it has no power. Once up to normal second gear speeds it will shift from second to third. Manually shifting into first only gets me into second (shifting first to second and vice versa, I'm still in second gear at any speed).

This weekend I decided to pull the transmission pan and see what I had. The pan was clean and other than it being time to replace the fluid there wasn't any surprises there. No burnt fluid and in all pretty clean (no sludge build up on bottom of pan). I replaced the the filter and fluid. Still no first gear but shifting between 2nd and 3rd seems smoother (could be my imagination)

I've been doing as much web researching as I can but could use a little help pointing me in the right direction. Paying for my daughters college is costing me a fortune so any help is very much appreciated.

Thanks

Don

 

[4byRANGER]

its an electronic transmision so you may want to check all wires leading to it, also check the speed sensor on the rear axle..

you say its a 4x2? does that mean it also has 4wd?
i had a problem real similar to what your talkin about with my ranger.. the speed sensor in the transfer case was messed up and cause bogging of the engine, gears not shifting properly, and no O/D..

 

[v6Don]

It's only 2 wheel drive

Thanks for the reply. It is two wheel drive so no transfer case. I did replace the speed sensor in the differential. That cleared up the odometer issue so I figured that part of the wiring is OK.

The plan today is to enlist the service of my son to go through the wiring harness with a volt ohm meter from the ECM to the tranny. I found a wiring diagram online so that should help with pins and wire colors. I am hoping that the shifting issue is related to the O2 sensor incident but it may not be.

If anyone knows an easy way to test the shift solenoids I would be grateful.

Again thanks,

Don