OK here it goes.I was towing my 5th wheel no problem. I stop to let a person cross the street. I go to start again and the truck wont move in drive or second but fine in first, all other gear positions work. Once moving above 50 km i can shift into drive and it wroks fine on the high way.I get home second starts working but now i have no reverse. I shut the truck off and start it again now i have no reverse no neutrul ahd every shifter position works like a forward gear. Like wtf is going on here, I'm stumped.
all help appreciated thanks chris.

 

are the linkages from the column shifter hooked up to the transmission? I know more about chevy automatics than Ford but the concept is still the same under the fire wall you should be able to move the shift linkage manually for drive reverse N park 1 2 .

If this works and nothing happens ( parking brake on and 2nd person in the truck ) check the tranny fluid for burnt smells and that it is full, My uneducated guess is the torque converter is the issue

 

The 4R100 is a flyby wire setup, not a mechanical linkage. I hope you had a trans temp gauge and were watching it. More than likely the fluid has been overheated and caused either slippage or overheating parts. The fluid needs to have a bright red/pink color and should not have a burnt/rotten smell. Sorry, but it sounds to me like you're headed for a $3000 trans.

 

The 4r100 is not a "fly by wire" trans. It still has a mechanical linkage to select what gear to start in. It is a cable that runs down from the column to the shift lever. The computer controls when the other shifts happen, much like a 700r4.
First check your fluid level. Then check the mechanical linkage for proper adjustment. Check the filter inside the pan, and valve body bolts for tightness. Have the line pressure checked if you can't do it. These are the most common causes for your symptoms. Due to you can drive it I do not think it is a bad t/c. You might have overheated the trans causing the fluid to spill out, and now you are real low on fluid.

 

I ain't a transmission guy, but I know reverse is always mechanical (meaning if the transmission is electronically dead, you'll still have at least one forward gear range and reverse). If you ain't got reverse, something's broke inside the transmission. Sorry.

 

Sounds expensive to me.

 

so this could be caused by a low fluid situation then? I would say look for the easy stuff first before spending lots of money, If you can get it working enough to get it the dealer that would be your best bet.

 

i believe the 4r100 is shifted by solenoids, has a cable that
connects shift lever to prndl switch but the actual shifting is done by solenoid packs