First off it's a 2000 Ranger Sport, reg cab, 4 cylinder, automatic.

Today coming home from work the Ranger started having some issues. Accelerating from a stop light the revs shot up as well as the speedo, then the speedo dies, the truck shot forward, and the ABS light came on as well as the O/D light started flashing until i got the truck home. It was shifting hard the rest of the way home.

From what I have gathered, the speedo and O/D light are potentially related to the speed sensor.

My best guess for the ABS light is just an ABS sensor.

Here is the biggie though. After restarting I only have first gear when in "Drive". Will not go into second or any other gear. "Park", "Neutral", and "Reverse" are unaffected. When in "2", it is only second gear and no first gear. So it starts in second gear from a stop when in "2". Position "1" is unaffected.

Any advice?

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2000 Ranger Sport

Green 'n rusty
Auto 4banger

The fluid level is good?

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2006 4.0 5 spd auto 4x4 Super Cab
BF Goodrich Commercial Traction T/A's
Royal Purple Throughout
Alpine Head Unit with some Infinity Noisy Stuff
NW Oregon

cant say it will solve your issue, but I have a friend that had same issue on a late model Ram, they serviced the trans (fluid n filter) and is working perfect..
the filter cld be gomed up, or tranny has failure..

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MY BUILD THREAD
1999 MAZDA 2500SE, 2.5L 4-clanger, 5 speed, Green n slow. Rangers as daily drivers since 1988.
ASE Certified Mechanic, Builder of Show Destroying Protouring and Classic cars..

Trans fluid level is good. Still has good color too.

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2000 Ranger Sport

Green 'n rusty
Auto 4banger

Did you test the trans fluid with the truck running, in drive with a friend holding the brake, i remember i didnt do that on my moms edge when i checked it and i ended up overfilling the trans by 2 quarts.

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2001 Mazda B-3000 CabPlus "FX2 Off Road"| 3.0 | 5 SPD | 3 In Spindle Lift | Belltech Shackles | UltraGauge |Alpine Head / 10" Kicker Setup | Air Box Mod | Add-A-Leaf| Thrush Welded B4 Rear Wheel | Kobalt Box | Cobra 19 DX IV | Custom PA Speaker | Front/Rear Tow Receiver | 2X Aux Lights | Hideaway Strobes | Back Rack Safety Rack | Amber LED Strobes | Blue LED Strobes | 265/75/R16 General Grabber AT2's

I had a truck that wouldn't shift but I'm not positive what fixed it. I dropped the pan and tested all the solinoids. They all ohm'ed out ok so I tested them on the battery. I took a small screw driver and moved the valves in the valve body with it to make sure none were stuck. re-torqued the valve body and installed a new filter. When I put it back together it worked normally. I didn't have an abs light. You might want to clean or replace the speed sensor on the rear axle before you tear into the trans.

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22 and counting...

Should I start by replacing the rear speed sensor or transmission speed sensor or both?

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2000 Ranger Sport

Green 'n rusty
Auto 4banger

You won't have a speed sensor on your trans. I would try the one on the rear axle

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22 and counting...

check fuses and relays, i had a buddy whos f150 got stuck in 3rd in drive, od light blinking, took it to ford and it was a fuse