This morning, out of the blue, my Ranger wouldn't shift out of first until it hit a very high RPM (a fail safe feature?).

The ABS light came on, and the speedometer doesn't work until it shifts out of first.

I assume this is a computer-type problem. Heading for the dealer, but if anyone has any ideas to pass along, it would be much appreciated.

3.0L XLT

 

What is the year, number of miles, and what kind of tranny??

You may have a tranny on the way out or be low on fluid or have contaminated fluid. Tranny's should be flushed every 30K and newer Ranger's take Mercon V.

 

I have the same issue but the speedometer never works sometimes it tries when I let off the throttle but that's it and it's giving me a code for the abs speed sensor even after replacement as well as itll put itself in neutral or 1st sometimes and I just changed the transmission position switch and the fluid is good the motors fine I'm at a loss I just checked and cleaned the pins on the main cluster on the wiring harness under the hood still gotta check the cluster underneath the cab and the grounds but I'm about out of ideas I'm pretty generally knew to the ford ranger game and I'm not really an automatic guy always have had a standard so outside of the obvious with an automatic I'm treading on enemy territory please anyone with an answer or an idea even a solution that could be bought I need this thing to run right until I can get my 5spd standard in my 95 rebuilt for a 3.0 vs 2.5 and a new computer programmed so I can swap this thing