Transmission Fluid Change and now?...won't shift gears! HELP

[JSL]

1999 Ford Ranger XLT, V6 3.0L Automatic - I performed a transmission fluid change today and when starting vehicle to back off ramps the truck would not shift into reverse or any other gear. What could I have done wrong when removing pan and old filter, then replacing with new filter and bolting pan back on? I have not put any fluid in yet. I reset PCM by removing negative post connector for 20 minutes on battery, nothing. Please help! Thanks, Jennier

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

Seriously?

No fluid in an automatic transmission means it will not move. Stop trying to drive it without fluid in it, you will burn it up.

 

[kryptonitecb]

You probably already burned something up just by trying to move it.

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[LIMA BEAN]

OUCH, How did you check fluid level while unlevel on ramps, is there an APP for that?

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Add atf until it reaches just above the full mark then start it set the ebrake and shift into neutral then check it again running in neutral. You dont want to overfill and as the tranny warms up the fluid will expand so keep it just below full for a bit then take it for a road trip. after about half hour of running it check that the level is full once again running in neutral. I dont imagine you hurt anything unless you run the engine at high rpms or got it too hot running without oil for too long. All you can do is add oil and hope for the best. GL

 

[LIMA BEAN]

Add atf until it reaches just above the full mark then start it set the ebrake and shift into neutral then check it again running in neutral. You dont want to overfill and as the tranny warms up the fluid will expand so keep it just below full for a bit then take it for a road trip. after about half hour of running it check that the level is full once again running in neutral. I dont imagine you hurt anything unless you run the engine at high rpms or got it too hot running without oil for too long. All you can do is add oil and hope for the best. GL

Yep what he said^^^^ and lets hope for the best.

 

[RatDog8o8]

1999 Ford Ranger XLT, V6 3.0L Automatic - I performed a transmission fluid change today and when starting vehicle to back off ramps the truck would not shift into reverse or any other gear. What could I have done wrong when removing pan and old filter, then replacing with new filter and bolting pan back on? I have not put any fluid in yet. I reset PCM by removing negative post connector for 20 minutes on battery, nothing. Please help! Thanks, Jennier

That's what you "did wrong"....the statement in red.

The fluid in an auto trans is what makes the parts inside do what they do. It's called "hydraulic pressure".

 

[jhammel85]

Why would you move it without fluid?

Fill it up and hope for the best...I really hope that you didn't burn it up.

 

[4x4junkie]

I've backed mine off of ramps after draining the fluid from my stickshift just to get it in a better position for refilling it. Maybe that's what the OP was trying to do? (just giving the benefit of the doubt here)
As has been said, that doesn't work so well with an automatic.

 

[kryptonitecb]

Manuals are a completely different animal. Still you shouldn't run either without fluid ever ever ever ever!

Sent from the road while ignoring traffic

 

[adsm08]

Automatic transmissions require, get this, fluid pressure to even pretend to go into gear. No fluid, no pressure, not force available to engage the clutch set and move the vehicle.

If you didn't sit there revving it for 20 minutes, just threw it in gear and tried to move a little (why would you even consider putting it in a forward gear if the truck is already on ramps?) then you probably didn't damage anything. When replacing transmissions at work I usually only have 1 or 2 qts in the pan when I start them.