# My truck won't reverse. Should i fix this myself? **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [July 10, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618 "2023-07-10T22:50:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![nhood87\_185964](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nhood87_185964/32/35228_2.png) [@nhood87\_185964](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nhood87_185964)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/1 "2023-07-10T22:50:48Z")
My 1994 2wd Ford Ranger 2.3L automatic won’t go in reverse. I heard a clunk backing up. It sounds like it could be the band in the transmission breaking. The transmission fluid is fine. I’m not very knowledgeable, but i try to do my own work as much as possible to save money. In regards to this issue, do you think it is wise to try and fix this myself or should i just take it in? Thanks ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2023, 10:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/2 "2023-07-10T22:58:11Z")
Suggest to not attempt a diy’er transmission repair if problem is inside the transmission. Too complex. Take it to a shop and get the problem diagnosed. They may tell you all it needs an adjustment to the transmission shifter linkage, or replacing a faulty screw-in solenoid. Then you can do that yourself. Problems with reverse gear in automatics pretty rare here. Maybe the cause is pretty simple. You might try the forum search function to see what others have posted about this issue, link upper right this page. ---
**Author:** ![nhood87\_185964](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nhood87_185964/32/35228_2.png) [@nhood87\_185964](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nhood87_185964)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 12:22am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/3 "2023-07-11T00:22:41Z")
Okay, thanks. I got quoted $3,700 to get a new transmission. The engine is good with only 90k miles, but i only paid $1,200 for the truck. Seems totaled. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/4 "2023-07-11T01:41:05Z")
Here is what your A4LD transmission looks like taken apart basically… [https://www.wittrans.com/img/diagrams/35/35.jpg](https://www.wittrans.com/img/diagrams/35/35.jpg) ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 4:16am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/5 "2023-07-11T04:16:34Z")
> [@nhood87\_185964](#): > > Seems totaled. The total comes to $4900. Drive this truck for 5 years, that comes to less than $1000 per year. Buy a new truck a see how it turns out financially. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 11:04am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/6 "2023-07-11T11:04:16Z")
You could get a second opinion from another **independent non-chain** transmission shop. If the rest of the truck is in good condition , ie no rust, engine well maintained, it would be worthwhile to have transmission repaired or replaced. ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 12:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/7 "2023-07-11T12:18:05Z")
You could put in a used trans. A rwd truck trans is not complicated to remove. ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 12:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/8 "2023-07-11T12:42:36Z")
> [@Cavell](#): > > You could put in a used trans The only issue with that is the A4LD transmission was basically made from 1985 to about 1994/5 and was used in the Bronco II and Rangers and may be hard to find a good running used 28-38 year old one… But other wise a great idea… ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 9:57pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/9 "2023-07-11T21:57:21Z")
If I had that problem, and if there’s no simple diy’er solution, I’d use it as an opportunity to upgrade the truck’s configuration to a (used) manual transmission. If choosing that approach OP, you’llhave to do some research to see what if any drivetrain computer issues need to be resolved. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 10:41pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/10 "2023-07-11T22:41:46Z")
> [@George\_San\_Jose1](#): > > I’d use it as an opportunity to upgrade the truck’s configuration to a (used) manual transmission. I’m not sure why you think a manual would be an upgrade. But a quick check with mostly used parts, the parts needed to switch over are close to $2000 ---
**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:** [July 11, 2023, 10:45pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/11 "2023-07-11T22:45:27Z")
I agree, and just to add, if the OP can’t do the required fabrication work themself, the labor could easily add another $2k. ---
**Author:** ![George\_San\_Jose1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e5b9ba/32.png) [@George\_San\_Jose1](https://community.cartalk.com/u/George_San_Jose1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2023, 11:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/12 "2023-07-11T23:07:32Z")
> [@It\_s-Me](#): > > I’m not sure why you think a manual would be an upgrade. Reverse gear would work. ---
**Author:** ![PvtPublic](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/pvtpublic/32/13089_2.png) [@PvtPublic](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PvtPublic)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 9:59am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/13 "2023-07-12T09:59:30Z")
> [@nhood87\_185964](#): > > do you think it is wise to try and fix this myself Absolutely not, especially after I read this. > [@nhood87\_185964](#): > > I’m not very knowledgeable, but i try to do my own work ---
**Author:** ![Cavell](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cavell/32/43396_2.png) [@Cavell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cavell)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2023, 1:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/my-truck-wont-reverse-should-i-fix-this-myself/191618/14 "2023-07-12T13:27:22Z")
Yards want a fair amount for trans. You might get lucky and find someone parting out a rusty ranger. Maybe,