A4LD troubleshooting help, please.
First, I'm no mechanic. I change my oil & plugs, things like that, but that's it. I've used this site before to help with problems, and the knowledge here helped me save $$. [Thanks!] I'm hoping some of the aces here can help me peg my problem.
I have a '92 2WD Ranger with 97,000 miles that I only drive a couple times a month. No major problems, until two days ago. It's a bit hard to explain, but when I put it into gear, it sometimes just sits there, the trans not engaging. If i cycle the shifter on the column, it will sometimes engage into gear. Other times, like when going up a hill, the trans loses all torque, like it's just spinning free. It has done this on flat ground, too. Going along, then, no forward motion. I brake & cycle the shifter & it will engage. Maybe. I've driven it twice, just to check it, about .5 mi, total, just down the gravel road & back. So far, all I've done is check the fluid, which is good. It's been experiencing jerking going into reverse, for about six months now. Not too violent, but it seems to be getting intermittently stronger.
The loss of torque/fwd momentum began right after i bumped a walnut tree at about 3 mph while backing up to let a delivery truck into my backyard. Guy was talking to me & wasn't looking. Tapped the right rear bumper against the tree [about 3 mph]. The transmission began behaving as described the next time I drove it after this. I'm just wondering if this put enough pressure on the u-joint or drive shaft to break a seal further up. I see no leaks.
Maybe relevant: I was gone last weekend and there was flash flooding here, right through the parking spot. The neighbors kept an eye on it & said it didn't get up to chassis, only about "6 inches".
I have also caught two mice in the cab [I'm out in the country] & wonder if anything like that could be the problem. I haven't had time to crawl over to see, but I will check seals, hoses, & wires tomorrow for mouse damage, as it idles fast now & think the mice might have tried to supe the carb.
Just throwing the water & mice out there for consideration. I think I did it when I tapped the tree, or maybe it just decided to give out on its own at this time.
I'm hoping this is something minor, like a vacuum diaphragm, because I just got laid off & had other inconvenient expenses the last couple of months.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!