i have a 97 f150 4.2 4x4 and the transmission is acting up, when it is is drive i will have to red line it to shift through the gears, i can manually put it in 2 and it will shift from first to second fine, when the problem started the cel came on so i unplugged the battery and cleared it, when i started the truck it it was off but as soon as i put in in reverse (or drive i tried it twice) it comes right back on, when going from park to either reverse or drive in engages hard and slams in to gear, im trying to convince my self that i dont need a new transmission and thats it electrical but im looking for some advice and places to start looking for this problem

 

The place to start looking is at the code that is stored in the computer's memory. That's an excellent place to start. Without the code all you can do is buy parts and install them until you find the problem. The code will tell you what the computer is seeing that's wrong.

 

i CAN do that but i really dont wanna drive the truck in its current state because i would hate to ruin the tranny over a $100 part

 

I missed that the first read. It should not shift when the shifter is in 2. It should start in 2nd and stay in 2nd. The torque converter can lock, and maybe that's what you are feeling as the shift.

If it would make you feel better, change that $100 part.

 

you must have mis read (or i mis typed) when i take off i drive insted of gunning it all the way to red line to get it to shift i can put it in 2 at 5mph or so and it will shift fine

 

It is VERY likely electrical and I suggest getting the vehicle towed to a place that can scan the codes. Swapping parts as a means to diagnose this one might really end up costing you.

Darrin

 

good news!!!!!!! its fixed !!!!!!!!! it ended up being a throtle posistion switch

 

Glad you got it straightened out. With an electrical problem like that it can be tough. What threw me was that putting it into drive or referse generated the code.

Electronic touble on these can really be impossible to diagnows long distance.

Darrin