My sons friend has recently purchased a 97 Dakota 4X4 with a 3.9L Automatic. Here is the problem. When it is shifted into reverse it will either not move but sound as if the tranny is stuck in two gears forward and reverse or it will move forward. The transmission fluid was really low it has been filled up. Also forward gears work fine. Any help would be appreciated.

 

sounds like your reverse gear is blown, happened to my bros ram, tranny shop will be able to fix it

 

moe in wichita ks
first try dropping the pan and change the filter & fulid. see what happens is the filter gets cloged up, rev kicks the line pressure up to 350 psi the cloged filter cant pass that much fulid, in a foward gear the pressure is only 150 to 175 and the cloged filter can pass enough fulid. be sure and use the right fulid, these newer trans will NOT work right if you dont.

 

it would be mopar atf+4, and i doubt fluid flow is an issue, maybe contributing, but i definitely would say either your linkage is out of whack (needs adjustment) or there's internal issues that need to be dealt with. find a local tranny garage thats reputable, stay away from cottman or high end rebuilders like then, dont waste your time and money with them.

 

drop the pan check for metal. There is a magnet so check that out.