Thread: Transmission won't engage in D, but will with the paddles...

Im not 100% sure since I havent driven one in a long time but can you take off in a gear other than 1st or does the pcm force 1st gear take offs while in manual shift mode? If it just out of the blue quit engaging forward in D range than it sounds like you have a broken forward apply band. This is a semi common problem for these transmissions and when broken will allow you to take off in 2 or 1 range normally and upshift through the gears just fine so yes you will have 3rd and 4th gear when this band is broken. You can not load the engine down too much in 1st gear and you will notice slippage. There is a manual 1-2 coast band that applies for engine braking in manual 2 and 1 ranges and when the forward band breaks the coast band is the only thing holding and it is a very narrow band that does not have near the bite that the forward band has. The easiest way to verify if the band is broken is to drop the lower pan and there is a windowed out area in the case that allows you to look at where the forward servo pin applies the band. This is on the passanger side of the trans almost directly above the small end of the filter. There will either be a piece of the band broken off laying in the pan or the brazed on lug on the end of the band is broken if the band is your problem.