# 2011 Ford Ranger - Won't shift to first

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** ford\
**Created:** [August 19, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258 "2018-08-19T21:42:57Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![robertpiscitelli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c37758/32.png) [@robertpiscitelli](https://community.cartalk.com/u/robertpiscitelli)\
**Post date:** [August 19, 2018, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258/1 "2018-08-19T21:42:57Z")

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have a 2011 ranger sport with 4.0 engine and automatic transmission and it won’t shift to 1st gear manually. why

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**Author:** ![wentwest](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/wentwest/32/6073_2.png) [@wentwest](https://community.cartalk.com/u/wentwest)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 4:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258/2 "2018-08-20T16:07:58Z")

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Sometimes the mechanism that connects the shifter to the transmission needs adjustment.

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**Author:** ![eddo](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/eddo/32/2594_2.png) [@eddo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/eddo)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258/3 "2018-08-20T18:14:18Z")

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how are you trying to shift to first manually?  
Gear shift down to first?  
Does this trans have push button manual shifting? where you put the gear selector into “M” and then hit buttons to manually shift?

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**Author:** ![Purebred](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/purebred/32/46796_2.png) [@Purebred](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Purebred)\
**Post date:** [August 20, 2018, 8:03pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258/4 "2018-08-20T20:03:39Z")

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Looks like the 2011 has the D 2 1 quadrant, suspect wentwest is correct.

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**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:** [August 20, 2018, 9:31pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2011-ford-ranger-wont-shift-to-first/123258/5 "2018-08-20T21:31:48Z")

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The problem might be with the transmission range sensor.

[https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2011,ranger,4.0l+v6,1446675,electrical-switch+&+relay,neutral+safety+switch+/+range+sensor,4584](https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/ford,2011,ranger,4.0l+v6,1446675,electrical-switch+&+relay,neutral+safety+switch+/+range+sensor,4584)

This sensor informs the computer what gear is selected. The computer then operates solenoids within transmission to apply hydraulic pressure to engage the clutches within the transmission.

Tester