Transmission Problem

[fleckbass]

I have a 2008 Ford Ranger Sport 4.0 Liter 4x4 wit 50k miles. A few times recently, seems to be related to colder temps. While attempting to pull the vehicle out of the garage, I put it in reverse. It seems to engage but doesn't move. The first time this happened, I gave it a little gas and there was a "bang" then the vehicle was able to back out of the garage. This happened a couple of times since then but I didn't give the vehicle gas because I didn't want to damage anything. I tried going from Reverse to Park back to Reverse then drive to reverse. Eventually I will hear something clank in. This seems to only be occurring when backing out of the garage and when it is colder. I have an extended warranty but I know if I take it in, they will not find anything. Going to have to do it eventually anyway. Any ideas about what is happening here?

 

[TimR]

need more info...

temp? is garage heated? will it move forwards?

My immediate thought is, frozen to ground, cause tires were wet when parked.

lol

 

[fourwheelford]

Did you by chance have the parking brake set? Mine does that sometimes I stopped setting my brake and it has never done it again. Also check inside your wheel on the brake drum there is a little rubber plug for adjusting your brake shoes if its gone some moisture may be getting in there and freezing. Mine would only do it during cold weather also, I highly doubt it has anything to do with your tranny at all its all in the brakes.

 

[adsm08]

It's not unheard of for the parking brake to freeze up in extreme cold weather. Try backing into the garage at night and see if it does the same thing pulling out the next morning.

If you take it in to get it looked at, make sure to drop it off the night before so that it gets a good cold soak over night. That way the tech working on it can have the best chance for duplicating the conditions under which you experience the concern. One of the biggest problems that I have duplicating concerns is either not being given enough information to replicate the conditions, or being given the vehicle too warm to make it happen. Then people get upset at me for not being able to find it.

 

[fourwheelford]

I wouldn't even bother taking it to anyone, mine only does it every so often and is a crap shoot to make it happen when you want it to. Its just the brakes freezing and then breaking loose.

 

[fleckbass]

If it's the brakes freezing and breakin' loose, what was the big bang? It sounded like the transmission engaging hard. Is yours doin' this? Hopefully, this sound wasn't the tranny getting damaged. I hear ya about not takin' it. Dealer service is useless for intermittent problems.

 

[fourwheelford]

The big bang is to pieces of metal braking apart under force, if you pay really close attention when it does it you can tell its coming from the rear of the truck might be harder inside a garage though. At any rate you should be fine.