hi im dylen i own a 1998 dodge ram 1500 5.2 v8 4x4. well this truck was given to me from my mom because well the reverse stopped working. i need a few ideas on what it can be before i bring it to a transmission shop because i have no money. she was driving down the road and her and her boyfriend who happens to be a mechanic heard a crash or a bang and didnt know what it was until they parked and tried to reverse it acts like in neutral just revs up no movement. i checked the transmission fluid looks good but i think it kinda smells burnt cant quite say because i never smelt transmission fluid before. i put lucas tranny fix in let it sit running and kinda seemed like it wanted to move but not much hard to tell, i picked up the truck and drove it 60 miles back to my place and it drove beautiful and has alot of ***** the truck has 315k miles but the motor dont i do not know if tranny is original or not. i rolled down a hill and tested overdrive and well i have no overdrive either and if im on a slight hill in reverse it will role backwards without pressing the gas what can it be?

 

also i forgot to mention when i put it in reverse and press the gas for 2 seconds it makes a quick scratching like sound

 

Drop the pan, and see what you find.

 

Been a long time but, I once lost reverse while backing up a steep hill with a full load of fresh cut Oak in the back.

Dropped the pan and found the rear? band was loose, adjust and still have reverse.

Edit:

When you drop the pan install a drain plug, makes life much easier in the future.