Transmission won't shift out of first gear
 

The transmission in my 2000 Blazer 4x4 works fine in reverse, but won't shift out of 1st gear when the shifter is in the "D" position. It will shift to 2nd gear if I manually shift to the "2" position. If I shift manually to the "3" position, it will go back into first gear. Any suggestions on what could be the problem would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Jim

vehicle speed sensor? i left mine unhooked when i swapped transfercases and thats the same symptoms.

X2 on the vehicle speed sensor . Mine went bad and the speedometer didn't work right and wouldn't shift right .

2 months ago I had a similar problem. 1998 Blazer would't shift past 2nd gear. My speedometer wouldn't work and the ABS light came on. I got a tip from this site refering to the speed sensor (Tranny) and when I checked the sensor for possible replacement, the wires 3 inched from the sensor were frayed. I peeled back some wire and used electical tape and the car got back to normal. Hope this possibilty works for you.

Thanks for the input everyone! I changed the vehicle speed sensor and it's shifting fine now!

Glad to see you got it fixed! Thanks for the feedback.

I've got a 2000 Bravada doing exactly the same thing. For a few days, it didn't want to shift out of first on its own, but by feathering the gas I could make it shift pretty well. Once it was out of first, it was fine. Now, I can't get it to shift out of first at all.

The only difference I see from what the OP was experiencing is that my speedometer is working fine, and my ABS light is not on. Is the speed sensor still the likely culprit? If so, where is this sensor located?

Thanks in advance...

Well, I put in a new VSS last night, and the problem persists. I'd appreciate any input on where to look next.

One thing I noticed is that when I screwed the new VSS in fully, the plug was oriented about 90 degrees from the original. No chance that would be a problem, is there?

Thank you.

I'm having nearly the same problem as the OP. I thought my transmission was bad, because it wouldn't shift from 2nd into 3rd or 4th. It goes out of 2nd, and kinda hangs. The Spedo is defunct, and the ABS light comes on a few minutes after starting to drive. Where would the speed sensor be located, and is there only one sensor or multiple sensors, like O2 sensors?

OK. Just looked under my 97. All the sensors are intact and are connected by what seem like good wires. The vehicle was in an accident recently, so do we think it could have messed up the sensors without leaving any visual evidence behind? The ABS light I've found comes on when I try to manually shift it into 3rd, the tranny shifts out of 2nd but wont grab 3rd and THEN my ABS light comes on.

i am having the same issues. i only get up to about 20. only in first gear, wont shift out of it. the abs light is on, but it has been on. speedo works, everything is good, just replaced the vss. topped it off with fluid. i dont know what to do. and i dont have much money to dump in it. anyone???

Is there any warning lights on?

cel is on. no way to get it all the way into town to check it. over last 2 weeks cel is on and off. bout 3 weeks ago i had the codes pulled. said misfire in no 3 cylinder. havent had a chance to get by an auto parts store.

is there any way to check it without a scanner? ( i used to have a honda, it had a wire harness on the passengers side that u had to short. odometer would blink code for the cel code #. )

well. drove it into town. the only check engine light is for the misfire. the guy at oreilys told me it could be a transmission speed sensor. is there one? where is it? i have already replaced the vss. or is it a wheel speed sensor? which one controlls the shifting of the transmission. also the cel blinks sometimes??? what does that mean

The newer models use the the output speed sensor in the back (drivers side) of the transmission (or transfer case for 4wd) as the wheel sensor. So they're one and the same. Usually this is either a bad speed sensor or a worn out trans.

Rarely severe emissions problems will put it into "limp mode" but will usually barely run at all.

abs sensors fixed it. i had already replaced the vss on the tail end of the transmission. the abs sensor on the driver side was destroyed. replaced both and it runs again!!! i have a 1999 awd

If you replaced the vss sensor on transfer case and u still have abs and/or engine lite come on, I would Chk connections on all vss's. find out what the troubleshooting codes are as well.. If alls well in those areas ur abs modulator/pump may b the problem. I have the modulator/pump model. Chk those connections carefully. (The abs mod/pump is loc on drvr side next to master cylinder). Worse case is bad modulator.