I got my truck today and I had to put 3 quarts of atf in it..My problem is it doesn't go into drive right away and there is no reverse..It also slip sometimes but only when pulling out. Also maybe my gear indicator being off has something to do with it. Also when I put it in reverse I hear quite clicking sounds. I read strikers post and was very useful..What would be the next step before I give my first born up for another tranny?

you can take it to a shop and have the valve body cleaned, mine was slipping real bad and it was as reverse wasnt there then a valve stuck and i took it to a shop and the guy pulled the valve body out cleaned it and put a new filter and fluid in and it works better then it use too, he never asked how many miles were on it, but he did after taking it apart and told me he would have never touched it if he knew there were over 300,000 miles on it. The best part was when he took it out it still had the factory filter in it. He told me no charge since he couldnt garuntee his work bacause the mile but i gave him $100 anyways and it still runs.

taking it to a tranny shop surely gonna help. but some of the things you can do on your own. If it's shift linkage, you can adjust that on your own. just needs an AutoTrannyServiceManual or Haynes guide, shows the notches and such for the adjustment. Filter/gasket you can replace on your own. if the valves are cheesed up though a tranny shop would be a good bet. they can clean the valve-body up.

Filter/Fluid/Gasket is cheap so you'd be paying for labor. maybe $100 or so, give or take $20 like Satan said. may not even be that much anyway. parts/fluid are like $30 so labor maybe 50? so yeah. Have a tranny shop check it if you can if you aren't comfortable diving into it yourself

Well I used to have a 98 4x4 3.0 and when my brother had it something went in the valve body..Im going to call the tranny place now to see what they recommend doing to it im sure they had plenty of 3.0 trannys there..Ill post what they say.

OK just got off the phone..They were real nice and they said they will put it on the computer for free..Can't beat that..Ill post the results tomorrow.

The tranny place told me its the reverse band is most likely broke..Is this still safe to drive? I want to drive 4hrs there and 4hrs back to get a tranny do you think I will be ok?

Lots of good tranny info over here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146956

I would drive it 4hrs if it's been fine around town. But then, I like "adventures".

Even if you break down, a U-Haul truck and a dolly will get you home. Fun part is getting a dead tranny truck on the dolly!

Lots of good tranny info over here: http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=146956

I would drive it 4hrs if it's been fine around town. But then, I like "adventures".

Even if you break down, a U-Haul truck and a dolly will get you home. Fun part is getting a dead tranny truck on the dolly!

LOL..I love adventures to but not when I loose my tranny 300 miles from home..Yes it only slips when pulling out and the occasional pressing gas then letting off then press it again that sometimes get it to not go into gear right away.Ill check the fluids again to make sure im all good..Tomorrow Im going to drive and hour away to see how it does then.

well with one band (maybe) broken the others arent from doing the same.... you sure you have enough fluid in the tranny? If i were you i wouldnt take the chance, just bc if it does break down it will be a PITA trying to get it towed and what not...

Yea I understand what your saying...Do you think the broken band will effect the rest of the tranny..And if its the reverse band why does it go in neutral sometimes when i drive or pull out?

im not 100% sure on that... but the reverse band is only actuated when u put the vehicle in reverse... has nothing to do when u put it in neutral

I think you misunderstood me...It doesn't go into the gear neutral the tranny sorta slips or when I pull out there's no gear there then after a couple sec. it will go into gear.

Well I found out that my tranny pan is leaking real bad..And after I put some more fluid in it it never slipped at all just still no reverse..Im going to replace the filter, fluid and pan gasket...Can lack of fluid make it not go in reverse but still in drive?

it would slip really bad and somtimes it wont go into gear without fluid thaqt would prolly be you cheapest way right now to do the filter, fluid, and gasket, then make sure its full. I had good luck with the Lucas tranny fluid additive, my fluid was low after i got it back from the tranny shop so it was slipping bad and would take a while to engage so i put some lucas stuff in it and it worked perfect. do what you can then see what you ge tfrom that.

OK thanks..Im going to do that today and Ill post the results.

Well I changed the pan with all new filter and gaskets and Im still leaking from somewhere guess its not the pan...Tomorrow Im going to have to look it over again.