Just bought a 99 ranger 4x2 3.0 automatic and I have a nice strong reverse and a good 2nd gear but when I put it in drive it slips alot any idea on what the problem could be

 

Welcome to the forum

Manual 2nd is quite different than Drive as far as what is used in the valve body

You should have some transmission codes in computers memory, caused by the slipping, these are P07XX codes and many OBD readers can't read these codes
Parts stores will read codes for free, ask if they read trans codes, if not transmission shops will have readers that can, sometimes free sometimes you have to pay, ask

You have a 4R44E in a 1999 Ranger 3.0l, 1995 thru 2000 3.0l used 4R44E, 2001 and up used 5R44E

Good read here on how they work: https://atracom.blob.core.windows.ne.../2003_5_50.pdf

The 4R44E/55E, 5R44E/55E are all the same transmissions, 5R just got computer software update, 44E and 55E had different OD sprang/drum

Most likely you will want to replace a solenoid or two, but replacing the whole valve body with new solenoids and separator plate might be a better way to go
You don't mention the miles on the trans so hard to say if full rebuild may be the way to go
The Clutches and Bands(brakes) do wear out which causes slipping if valve body/solenoids are good

The clutches engage and disengage using pressure applied via the valve body and soleniods
The bands, used to stop/brake spinning parts, also get pressure via the valve body and solenoids to hold them
If valve body gaskets/seals are leaking or solenoids are not routing pressure correctly then transmission slips when trying to change gears

Clutches and bands use friction material same as clutches and brakes on manual trans and brake pads, so they do wear out

Heat is what wears out friction materials the most, this is why 2nd trans cooler will be the best $65 you will ever spend on any vehicle with an automatic

 

I have a pretty decent scanner does pretty much anything I want and it's not throwing any codes at all which is weird considering this truck has been sitting for an entire year before I bought it I went ahead and bought a rebuild kit for the transmission for 130 which bring the cost of the truck up to 330 total now I just have to take the time out and rebuild in the next few days if the shop isn't to busy I'd be more than happy to find out if I dont need to rebuild the thing so I'm still open to any ideas

 

Ok so I went ahead and took the trans all the way apart and found that it had a few issues one being the gasket was blown out and the teeth on the clutches weren't in the best shape on top of that the rear band was bad so I have it 99.9% ready tomorrow morning after a run to the local auto zone well fire her up and see what she says

 

Yes, looks due for a rebuild

How many miles on it?

 

120k the kid that owned it took really good care of it everything works on it and nothing is missing my guess he tried to pull something the truck couldn't handle but she's got all new parts on the inside now so it should be good tomorrow once I finish it all up just mite go ahead and change the oil cooler while I'm at it

 

So all day I busted head over this issue after a complete rebuild of the stupid 4r44e the main issue was not in the transmission I'm still having the same exact problem if I take off in second then shift into drive it shifts normal until It gets to a certain speed than i have to drop it into 2nd again and then drive and all is well someone please help!!

 

Still have absolutely no idea what's wrong with my truck I put the scanner on it and it has absolutely no codes I even put it on for it to show me the live data while I drive and everything is good according to the computer but I still can't take off in drive or 1st gear only 2nd and after 20mph o can slap up to drive and it shifts like nothing is wrong computer tells me all my solenoids are good and pressure as well please someone please give me some kind of insight on this

 

You could call a Ford Dealer, with your VIN in hand, and ask them if there was a software update for your 1999 dealing with transmission shifting

All shifting is based on what the computer "sees" from the DTR(digital transmission range) sensor located on the shift rod on drivers side of transmission
Does your scanner show the computer is getting P R D 2 1 correctly

 

Yes it shows up correctly even shows that i dont have my seatbelt on

 

Then I would say computer software is the issue
It should be setting an "incorrect ratio" code if its not shifting correctly in D

 

Someone said it could be the sensor on top of the rear diff if I'm correct Its a speed sensor would that have anything to with it?

 

Yes, from 1998 thru 2000 the ABS sensor on the rear differential was used for speedometer, cruise and computer's speed sensor
Computer will set P0500 code if this signal is missing or intermittant
Speedometer would also be effected


Rear ABS sensor's 2 wires run to the ABS module, these wires are spliced and also run to the GEM module behind the radio
The GEM is programed for tire size and converts the 20,000 pulse per mile signal down to the 8,000PPM that Ford uses for speedo, cruise and computer signal
Pin 58 on computer should have a Grey/black stripe wire, thats the speed signal from the GEM

If there was a problem in this system speedometer would also be effected

 

So i went ahead and bought the speed sensor that goes on top of the rear and nothing has changed I dont know what to do at this point but to drive how it is and whenever I blow the transmission to pieces try with an entire new transmission