Hey Im new here and somewhat a DIY type person with several jobs in the drive way. I can not find out why my fod 97 ranger will not start out in drive 1 or drive. I will only start out in Drive 2 and then I have to shift it down in D1.

You guys think the gear is out? Is there a couple o things I can check myself?
Any help would be appreciated.

 

Whats the mileage on the unit?

Does it have 'any' engagement feel in manual 1.. Reverse application is fine? Any shudder/noise on launch in manual 1?

 

Reverse works fine. Drive 2 works great and then I can shift it up into the higher gear D when I get going. When you come to a stop, you have to put it back into Drive 2 and get it going about 5 mile or 10 mph and then you can shift it up into DRIVE

When I try to start out in DRIVE it only sits, revs up, like it is in neutral. It doesn't shudder, grind. It somewhat feels like it engages slightly and then I guess it is just slipping.

The 97 Ranger has 130,000 miles on it.

Thanks for any discussions on how to fix.

 

At a guess,, I'd suspect a failed Low/One Way clutch..

The 2.3L/3.0L use a spring and roller type one-way clutch. The 4.0 uses a sprag type..

The low one-way clutch holds the low/reverse brake drum and reverse planetary assembly to the transcase in 1st gear 'only',, and overruns in all other gears....

Whats the fluid look like?, anyone service it to have a look for metal ect..