I am having trouble with my 2002 ford escape, the transmission won't engage in the drive, 2nd, or 1st gears. It only engages in neutral, reverse and park, but it's not making any noise and it doesn't have any rattling. I don't know what to do. I have tried changing the transmission fluid and checked the shift cables but there isn't anything visible that I can see to be wrong with the car. Please if anyone has any ideas let me know, thank you for your time.

Check out the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS):

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-10.html#post1955415

When you changed the transmission fluid, did you drop/clean the pan and replace the transmission filter?

Check out the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS):

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-10.html#post1955415

When you changed the transmission fluid, did you drop/clean the pan and replace the transmission filter?

The only way to change the filter is to drop the whole transmission and take it off because the transmission pan is on the side not bottom.

the only way to change the filter is to drop the whole transmission and take it off because the transmission pan is on the side not bottom.

So we changed the oil, but not the filter because I couldn't get to it.

so we changed the oil, but not the filter because I couldn't get to it.

There wasn't anything in the oil when we drained it.

In my opinion, you have to figure out how to drop & clean the pan and change the filter. This is particularly true of any FWD car, since the ATX is the weak link in these cars.

When I dropped the pan at 28,000 miles on my 2000 Taurus, I was shocked at all of the crud (clutch material) that was in the bottom of the pan. It's likely that way in your Escape (or worse). Clutch material can easily clog the filter and cause catastrophic ATX failure. Take the car to Ford, if necessary, and get the job done right. Hopefully, it's not too late. I only use Mobil 1 Synthetic Multi-Vehicle ATF or Amsoil Synthetic Universal ATF in all ATXs:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-12.html#post2295563

This link may help you in the future:

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/cars-trucks/faq-how-troubleshoot-repair-maintain-hondas-selected-other-vehicles-46563-10.html#post1873132

Because of poor design and lack of serviceability, the transmission has likely failed. You may want to check out this well-regarded transmission outfit:

Jasper Transmissions (http://www.jasperengines.com/transmissions.php)

Thank you for all of your help. I am going to try some of the things that you have suggested hopefully that will take care of the problem.

I hope that it's nothing major.

Our ford escape is a 4wd, v6 does that make a difference?

Same deal for the CD4E, 4 Speed--it's not serviceable without the transmission being disassembled.

Personally, I'd tear into the transmission, find out what's the problem, fix it, clean the pan, replace the filter, and refill with Mobil 1 Synthetic Multi-Vehicle ATF. Did you check for any ATX codes being thrown?

I have the same escape with the 3.0 remove the front drivers wheel find the bolts that hold on the plastic access panel and remove it, remove battery, and remove the 4 bolts that the battery sits in, drain your radiater, remove the radiater hose and anything else that is going to be in the way of your valve body pan, remove the pan, me and my wife done this ourself, be careful not to damage the valve body, the filter is located behind the valve body!! There is no need to drop the transaxle!!

my bad I made a mistake on the filter for the escape, me and wifey dropped the valve body pan on side, but we did not see the filter, I was told from parts dealer that it was behind the valve body, wrong!! U can get to the valve body, without removing trans. Like I stated before! But for sure you have to drop the tranny to get to the filter. We worked all day today to get that valve body off, to change the filter I about flipped my lid when it wasn't there! But you can see the filter on the bottom inside of tranny through the little hole, what an
I feel like! Sorry for wrong info!!