94 Ram Van B350 with 5.9L. Automatic transmission stopped working in 2nd and 3rd gear with no warning. Must put shift lever in 1st or reverse for van to move. I dropped the pan but no sign of damage. What could be broken that just affects 2nd and 3rd? Probably a 46RE model transmission.

 

I believe you know the answer, the tranny is bad and your time and money would be best spent rebuilding yours or finding a used unit.


You will find no shortage of these trannies at salvage yards also Ram vans are probably the easiest transmission replacement you could ever do. You have easy access to the bell housing bolts and on the 1 tons there is no need to lift the van to work underneath.
I have seen used units priced $250-$550 over the last 3 or 4 years so you should have no problem finding one then you can get the van on the road. Rather than trying to "fix" what sounds like a significant failure because should you get it to shift again then it fails in the near future and strands you on the side of the road you can't say you were not warned. Keep in mind we are coming into summer and heat is a trannies worst enemy.


I have been there and done that.

 

Definitely something I am considering. I just hate to give up without trying.

 

Well good luck, unfortunately I can not give you advice on what is causing the shifting problem but hopefully someone else one this site can.

 

Sounds like low one way clutch has failed....If it has, you can shift shift from low to man 2 once you get it up to 15-20 mph, then to D once you achieve some more speed.... ....

 

Either a clutch failed or the intermediate ban broke.

 

This looks like my problem. Is there a way to repair the clutch?

 

I had this problem with mine and had to drop the pan to replace a module (sensor) in the tranny.. All was fine afterwards.

 

I gave up and replaced the transmission. Works ok now.

 

glad you are on the road again