# 1998 Ford Ranger - Trans issue **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** ford\ **Created:** [February 19, 2020, 7:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832 "2020-02-19T07:37:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ken41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c67d28/32.png) [@Ken41](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ken41)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 7:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/1 "2020-02-19T07:37:44Z")
Put in reverse goes great. Put it in drive it takes a while before it moves. Seems like it’s in second slow ---
**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 4:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/2 "2020-02-19T16:06:27Z")
Is the transmission fluid at the right level? Is the color good? ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 6:00pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/3 "2020-02-19T18:00:16Z")
Have the transmission fluid changed and see if the situation improves. Then start saving for either a new transmission or a new truck. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 10:55pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/4 "2020-02-19T22:55:52Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > Then start saving for either a new transmission or a new truck. But, it’s ONLY 22 years old! 😏 ---
**Author:** ![Renegade](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Renegade](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Renegade)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 11:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/5 "2020-02-19T23:04:28Z")
That’s how I feel about my 30 and 38 year old truck’s. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/6 "2020-02-19T23:07:15Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > But, it’s ONLY 22 years old! > 😏 It’s not my place to tell the OP to replace his truck. If he wants to have it fixed that’s up to him. ---
**Author:** ![VDCdriver](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/vdcdriver/32/30_2.png) [@VDCdriver](https://community.cartalk.com/u/VDCdriver)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 11:13pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/7 "2020-02-19T23:13:08Z")
> [@davepsinbox\_157004](#): > > It’s not my place to tell the OP to replace his truck. If he wants to have it fixed that’s up to him. Nor is it my place to make such a recommendation, but then–hopefully–reality will take effect. ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 11:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/8 "2020-02-19T23:26:26Z")
Well, one can hope. ---
**Author:** ![old\_mopar\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/6bbea6/32.png) [@old\_mopar\_guy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/old_mopar_guy)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2020, 11:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/9 "2020-02-19T23:38:09Z")
My 62 Caddy is on its original transmission ( and probably fluid). While the odometer shows 91,000 miles, I have no idea how many times it’s rolled past 100,000. If you had no experience with early hydramatics, you’d think it was broken, but it’s working just as designed. It moves 3 feet in first gear before an imperceptible shift to second. Than a long acceleration in second before a slow firm shift into third. Than an almost immediate, imperceptible shift to fourth gear. ---
**Author:** ![Ken41](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c67d28/32.png) [@Ken41](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Ken41)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 9:08am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/10 "2020-02-20T09:08:57Z")
Yeah it’s all good. It’s the shift solenoid ---
**Author:** ![davepsinbox\_157004](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@davepsinbox\_157004](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davepsinbox_157004)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/11 "2020-02-20T17:47:12Z")
Good to hear. Here’s to many more miles. ---
**Author:** ![Venablebrennon17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/90ced4/32.png) [@Venablebrennon17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Venablebrennon17)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 12:54am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/12 "2026-01-06T00:54:02Z")
Hi all, So I have a 98 Ranger XLT 2.5 automatic trans. It recently stopped shifting gears and I don’t have the cash to pay a mechanic so i had to do the repairs myself. I removed transmission and did a full rebuild. Replaced the overdrive sprag, trans speed sensor, TCM, clutch and friction plates, filter, gaskets, ETC. pretty much a new transmission now. I just got the transmission back on and it will go into park and neutral but all other gears it acts like it is in neutral. R,1,2,D, with OD on or off it does nothing. I am thinking maybe I got something wrong with the valve body, does anyone know a good step by step video for the whole valve body? I can’t find anything on YouTube. Or does anyone have an idea what it could be? Any help would be a blessing this is my only vehicle and I don’t have any option but to fix it and at this point I’m almost $1000 into it so I need to fix the trans rather than buy a new one ---
**Author:** ![Tester](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/tester/32/15976_2.png) [@Tester](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Tester)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 1:01am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/13 "2026-01-06T01:01:13Z")
Why are you attaching your question to a 6 year-old thread? Go back to the main page,and on upper right you’ll see a NEW TOPIC button. Click that and pose your question. Tester ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 4:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/14 "2026-01-06T16:42:15Z")
Welcome to the forum… OK, 1st are there or where there any codes? like P0731, P0732, P0733, P0734, P0735 maybe?? Did you completely take the valve body apart and clean it or just spray it off?? Spool valves can go in either way a lot of times but will only work one way for the most part… Did you find the reason for the failure or just guess your way through it?? What did you use for a reference, meaning did you buy a manual on how to diagnose and rebuild 4R-44E transmission with all the spec for clearances and whatnots?? Are you 100% positive the transmission failed and not the rear end, meaning the pinion etc didn’t break?? This is either your valve body or similar… ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/f/9/f9971a390b424d1430a882b77e43f9b1221b5dcf.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 6:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/15 "2026-01-06T18:40:39Z")
Part two: Do you have any engagement with the wheels off the ground?? Low main line pressure?? … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … … Did you install the valve body correctly?? … … … … .. … … … … … … … … … … … … … .. .. # ENGAGEMENT FAULTS ## No Forward Engagement Fluid level, shift linkage, low main control pressure, filter assembly (plugged), valve body (sticking valves), incorrectly tightened valve body, pump assembly, center support assembly, forward clutch assembly and rear one-way clutch assembly. ## No Reverse Engagement Fluid level, shift linkage, low main control pressure, filter assembly (plugged), valve body (sticking valves), incorrectly tightened valve body bolts (cross-leaks), pump assembly, low-reverse clutch and low-reverse clutch band ## No Forward & No Reverse Engagement Fluid level, low main control pressure, filter assembly (plugged), valve body (sticking valves), incorrectly tightened valve body, pump assembly and overdrive one-way clutch assembly. ---
**Author:** ![Venablebrennon17](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/90ced4/32.png) [@Venablebrennon17](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Venablebrennon17)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/16 "2026-01-06T22:42:29Z")
I don’t know what’s going on man, I spent 2 days trying to figure it out. I don’t have a new topic button anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![bcohen2010](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@bcohen2010](https://community.cartalk.com/u/bcohen2010)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:49pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/17 "2026-01-06T22:49:18Z")
> [@VDCdriver](#): > > But, it’s ONLY 22 years old What’s your point? This type of compact pickup is vastly superior to anything you could buy new today. As long as the body and interior are decent, and the engine runs well, a remanufactured transmission would be a good investment. Replacing the truck would either cost $35k or more to buy new, or you’d spend thousands—maybe tens of thousands—on a roll of the dice. Better to fix the vehicle you already own. ---
**Author:** ![wolyrobb](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wolyrobb/32/45497_2.png) [@wolyrobb](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wolyrobb)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2026, 10:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/18 "2026-01-06T22:59:00Z")
It changed sometime. This is how you start a new topic on my screen. Little pencil icon above make&model. Blue arrow added. ![Screenshot_20260106_145105_Chrome](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/4/64468176e17802fa5ecead6b819a1edeeccb9e30.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 2:07am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/19 "2026-01-07T02:07:33Z")
The new topic icon for mobile device is unintuitive and has eluded visitors for a couple of months. Administrators have ignored this problem for some reason. ---
**Author:** ![davesmopar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/davesmopar/32/41750_2.png) [@davesmopar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/davesmopar)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2026, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832/20 "2026-01-07T13:47:11Z")
> [@Venablebrennon17](#): > > I don’t know what’s going on man, I spent 2 days trying to figure it out. I don’t have a new topic button anywhere ## Forget the new topic button, you already asked for help, what’s done is done, someone (me) is seriously trying to get some info from you to give you some help… Are you still in need of help with your transmission??? Or Not??? [Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/1998-ford-ranger-trans-issue/158832.md?page=2)