Shifting to reverse, occasionally stays neutral???
 

Okay so I had to have my transmission rebuilt over last summer. Ever since then, when I shift it into reverse from drive it will often stay in neutral unless I wiggle the gear shift or slam the shifter into reverse. It also causes a loss of parking sensors or reverse lights but will go into reverse. The problem has yet to occur going from park to reverse. Transmission is in a 2007 FX4 and is automatic. Shop offered to fix it but said they didn't do anything that could cause that and would charge me for whatever they had to fix so I can't take it back to them. I have seen a fix for the 2004's that is pretty easy but there's nothing on the 2007's that I can find. Any help is appreciated

Did you check the shift linkage cable? Sounds like it may need adjustment. I'm guessing but maybe even the Transmission Position Switch/Sensor (Digital Transmission Range Sensor). Sounds like one or the other is slightly off though or something.

How would I adjust the shift linkage cable? That's what I'm leaning towards but I am not sure how to do it.

my '05 has done it about half a dozen times in the last 2 months...

A friend of mine who is a Ford Tech is currently doing a phaser job on it and said he'd look into it when he was done... He probably just needed a service fluid change/flush...

If it's been doing it since your last service, they may have put less than the correct amount of fluid back in it... I'd check my levels to see if it was low....

I'm going out to get it warm now so I can check. A preliminary check per the owners manual for where it should be when cold shows it could be overfull. Could that potentially cause this problem?

Selector Lever Cable Adjustment
Vehicles equipped with a floor shifter
Place the transmission range selector lever in the 1ST position toward the rear of the vehicle.
Move the transmission range selector forward 2 detents. This should be the (D) position.
Vehicles equipped with a column shifter
Rotate the gearshift lever clockwise until it bottoms out (1ST gear), then rotate the gearshift lever counterclockwise 2 detent positions ((D) position).
Hang a 1.4 kg (3 lb) weight on the gearshift lever.
All vehicles
Position the vehicle on a hoist. For additional information, refer Maintenance/Service and Repair.
Vehicles equipped with a floor shifter




Rotate the cable adjustment lock upward and disconnect the shift cable from the transmission manual lever.
Vehicles equipped with a column shifter




Slide the shift cable adjustment lock upwards and remove the cable from the manual lever.



Rotate the manual lever forward until the travel stops. Then rotate the manual lever back 2 detents to the (D) position.
Vehicles equipped with a floor shifter




NOTE: Check to be sure that the shift cable retainer is correctly installed in the shift cable bracket.
Connect the shift cable to the manual lever and rotate the lock downward to lock the adjuster.

Vehicles equipped with a column shifter




Connect the shift cable to the manual lever and slide the lock downward to lock the adjuster.
Verify that the engine will start in PARK and NEUTRAL. Verify that the reverse lamps will illuminate in the REVERSE position. If not, check the adjustment of the transmission range (TR) sensor.

Transmission Range (TR) Sensor Adjustment


Special Tools


With the vehicle in NEUTRAL, position it on a hoist. For additional information, refer Maintenance/Service and Repair.



CAUTION: Do not pry on the swivel tube to disconnect the transmission shift linkage.
Disconnect the manual lever shift control cable.




CAUTION: Discard the outer manual control lever shaft nut. Do not reuse. The old nut will not retain the torque specification.
Remove the manual control lever.
Remove and discard the manual control lever nut.
Remove the manual control lever.



Loosen the digital transmission range (TR) sensor bolts.



NOTE: The manual lever must be in the NEUTRAL position.
Using the special tool, align the digital TR sensor slots. The tool is designed to fit snug.




CAUTION: Tightening one bolt before tightening the other may cause the sensor to bind or become damaged.
Using the special tool, align the digital TR sensor and tighten the bolts in an alternating sequence. Tighten to 9 Nm (80 inch lbs.) .




Install the manual control lever.
Position the manual control lever.
Install a new manual lever shaft outer nut.
Tighten to 33 Nm (24 ft. lbs.) .



With the manual lever in overdrive connect the shift lever control cable.
Lower the vehicle.

haha I was JUUUUST about to send it too!

Do you have any pictures? Where is the transmission range selector located? Also what does the shift cable retainer look like/located?
Edit:
Is this one of the two pieces I asked about? http://i1337.photobucket.com/albums/...ps22db41c2.jpg

See attached