Hello, I’m really hoping someone out there can help. I’m a mechanic so I have mechanical knowledge but I was born after obd2 came along so the older diagnostic system is kicking my butt. So I have a 1995 e350 econoline van. It has the 5.8 and the E40D. It’s has 297k miles and the original transmission started to slip. So I replaced it with a used one that has 126k miles. I installed it and everything went smoothly until I went to put it in drive and there was no forward movement. It would drive and shift through all of the gears in 2 and would drive forward in 1. I replaced the neutral safety switch and got the transmission to go into drive one time and then haven’t been able to get it to do it since. I have adjusted the neutral safety switch and ohmed it out in each position and that all checks out. The van seems to drive fine in 2 but I can’t help but be bothered by the fact that when the trans is in D it doesn’t work. Someone please help

 

There is a tool to assist with the correct positioning of the MLPS ,manual lever position switch (neutral safety sw).

Guessing doesn't always work. Did you notice the lines on the sw body to help with positioning?

 

Yes when I ohmed the switch on the bench with the lines lined up, “indicating neutral” the ohms matched up the spec for neutral. So when I installed the switch I set the transmission to neutral and bolted the switch up with the lines lined up. Then when I shift through the positions they all seem to work other than D. And when it’s in 2 it feels like you have to give it a ton of throttle to get it going. I’m thinking my next step is to make sure the plug on the other side of the transmission is getting 12volts

 

Good move, have seen where there is corrosion on the inside of the plug that goes onto the sw assy.

 

The trans range sensor will affect P/N cranking ops, but is more of an on/off adjustment.
So, manual 1 works all the time? Both application, and engine braking?
If OD is canceled, does it have any effect on shift engagement, drivability, scheduling etc?
Was the shift lever changed out during the swap? Generally, the MLPS alignment scribes should fall in alignment with the middle of the sensor bolt centered to the slots. 'Sometimes' if a lever change, if the lever isn't held/supported it can bend the internal detent spring causing the range/spool to be off .

Very well could be electronic control, or VB issues. No codes are present/stored?
Do you still have the old unit available?