Ok so I have a 1999 ford explorer XLT with an automatic transmission.. Last year I got stuck in the snow and reved up the engine and then dropped it down into drive ( don't ask why ).. I heard a loud pop underneath and have had no first gear ever since.. I have to start off in second and then move it into drive.. Reverse is fine... I have the money now so I was going to take it and get it rebuilt but I was wondering if it could be something a little more simple... I dont wanna drop 800 dollars into this if I dont have to!!!

 

I may be wrong , but I think it's going to be more than $800.00 to correct that problem.

 

haha yeah I figured it was done for.. I've had a few estimates and they was between 800 and 1200. I could just buy a used one and put it in myself but we have no lift so I'm sure it will be way more trouble than I could even imagine.. When I replaced the engine it took us about all day to line the flywheel back up and get the bolts in there from on jack stands

 

Sometimes you can use 2 or 3 long bolts with the heads cut off to use as guide studs when you go to put the trans back in. It can make a world of difference..

 

kinda sounds like the problem i just had fixed. my tranny had 161k on it and needed to shift manualy till 3rd using 1st and 2nd. the guy that rebuilt it for me told me the clutch plates that spin and grab one another were shot and the reason shifting manually worked is because the bands put more pressure on them. the total cost of the rebuild was 1600 i droped it on a thursday night and picked it up the following wed. morning and the guy gave me a full year warranty on it excluding milage. he also told me when towing or pulling a load up a grade, when starting to use 1st so that the bands apply pressure to prevent this from happening again since i tow alot with it