No reverse, please help

[Wrencher]

Greetings forum
I'm thinking about buying my neighbor's '99 Ranger,V6 with automatic. For the last 18 months he's been driving it without reverse. It's been suggested that he broke the shifting fork by not stepping on the brake before shifting. If this sounds likely, is it a job strictly for a transmission shop or can a decent backyard mechanic tackle it.

Thanks for any advice...

 

[Fellro]

There is no shifting fork in the automatics, the shifting is all done by hydraulics. Yes, you manually select the way the hydraulics apply, but that is it. If the shifter had been damaged, you would not likely get any gears. Chances are the clutches are gone. Check the fluid color,if it is burnt and dirty, the trans needs rebuilt. I expect that the only fix is a rebuild or replacement either way.