I have a 1997 F150 2WD 4.2(about 30,000 on new engine) 144, 000 miles on truck. The truck has had a tranny leak on a seal that connects to the engine, i believe this called the rear main seal(has been fixed twice and continues to leak). The truck had been sitting for about 4 months, yesterday my neighbor need to borrow my truck while his chevy needed repairs for his tranny. Long story short I charged the battery for it was dead and bought some tranny fluid to check it out before letting the truck take off. I hear my truck start last night for I had given the key to the neighbor with specific instructions. He makes a short 2 mile drive and calls to tell me that my truck will not go. I ask well did you check the tranny fluid before you left, the truck has been sitting for awhile. Of course the answer was NO. The truck had no reverse or drive. After keeping my cool, we got some fluid in the tranny and still nothing, just reving of the engine. Upon arriving back to get the truck with a chain to tow home, I hop in the truck and put the truck in drive. The truck now has gears, so I drive for about 3 blocks and after stopping at a stop sign I have nothing again. Also the blinkers or hazards wouldn't work.

A few things had happend before this that has me thinking that something electrical may be going on. I was jump starting my company truck about four months ago with the ford, I ended up going through 2 sets of Jumper Cables. The copper wires got so hot that it melted the insulating coating around the copper. Since I don't drive the pickup I really didn't investigate too much. I know I need to investigate for a power draw in the pickup and also check to see if any new codes have popped up. Just seeing if anyone has had any similair issues out there.

Thanks for looking over post and any help would be appreciated.

 

There is nothing electrical that will keep the transmission from engaging in forward or reverse. Either something mechanical broke or it doesn't have enough fluid to operate.

 

I had an electrical short that caused my trans to stop engaging in first gear, pulled transfault codes p0731 and p0732

Ford cleared them and the short was fixed. Truck runs perfect, transmission is perfect, all gears are smooth again and I have reverse!

Hope yours is a simple fix like mine was. I too had to jump start my truck multiple times because my battery was shot. But my issues started at an earlier point in time. I will try to reflash my gryphon as I'm still getting weird shifts with it tuned

 

^^^ my truck just flashed both those codes tonight. realieved to hear its nothing major. i got a 6 inch and 35 inch tires and a edge evo progamer and 38000 miles. im sure they wouldnt want to warrent anything on my pickup lol