Transmission only pulls in 1 and reverse not drive ,3,or 2 what is the problem

If it is a four wheel drive check your tail shaft or drive line by securing the vehicles front wheels jack up the rear tires and in park try to rotate the drive line if you can hear the transmission sound like it is going into gear the transfer case could be damaged! If not a four wheel drive pull the transmission dipstick and look to see if the fluid is dark red or metallic grayish color if so then you're clutch disks inside the tyranny have been worn out and it needs to be rebuilt!

Uuuh... No. There is an electrical link between the brake pedal and the transmission to prevent that from happening.
1. It keeps kids from pulling the lever out of park when they are too small to reach the pedals (first hand experience with that one back in the 60's!).
2. It keeps grownups from pulling it into gear with the engine revved up and crashing into things in parking lots and driveways.
3. Transmissions go from Park to Reverse, Neutral, then Drive. Without the brake on, there would be lots of excessive shocks to the transmission.

Check the tranny oil level ,with engine stationary and cold pull dipstick for transmission and it should be about a 1/4 to 1/2 inch above the full mark

The correct fluid to put in a 1997 van is (ATF-3). Sounds like you need to make adjustment on both the forward and reverse bands of the transmission to correct your problem. The kickdown band (front) forward is located at the top (outside) of the transaxle near the front. To adjust the band,loosen the lock nut approximately 5 turns. With the lock nut loose the adjusting screw should turn freely in case. Tighten the adjustment screw with an inch lb. torque wrench to 72 in-lbs. Then back the screw out 2 1/4 turns, hold the screw in place and tighten the lock nut to 35 ft-lbs. Then after removeing the transmission pan and filter the low-reverse band is located next to the valve body. Loosen the lock nut 5 turns so the adjustment screw is free. Turn the adjustment screw in to 41 in-lbs, then back the screw out 3 1/2 turns. Hold the adjustment screw and tighten the lock nut 10 ft-lbs. Install transmission pan/with gasket and refill transaxle to proper level. Test drive van. Be safe and block the rear wheels before you raise the van and try to work under it. Hope this will help you.

The reverse in your transmission is most likely burnt out . Check your transmisison fluid by pulling out the dipstick (closets to the firewall), if the fluid is not red (but back or dark color) and smiells burnt that is the indication of burnt transmission.

you need your transmission rebuilt the clutches are slipping

is this car still under warranty? if so take it back to the dealer and don't accept it as repaired till you drive it. sounds like the logic that controls the transmission is flipping out, sometimes they will tell you that it needs a reflash. what this amounts to is that the manufacturer put some not so great programming in the logic when they built the car but now they have a patch or fix that makes it work better but you have to pay them for their time to install the fix. ask them what they will charge you for the privilege and decide if it's worth it to you. there is a recorded technical service bulletin about harsh shifts for your car. well, actually there are two, the latest one a revision of the first. i would try to make this their problem, it really is. hope this helps.

check the level transmission fluid and top up 1/2 litre in gearbox

Hello;
Are you getting the check engine light? If so the electronics may have gone out. You may not need a rebuild but you won't know till you pull the oil pan on the transmission and inspect the contents. You may also have lost the neutral safety switch. It is mounted on the drivers side of the transmission. Check those out first and let me know what codes you get.
For Ponchoboy; the clunking and hissing you hear are teminal root causes. Drop the oil pan and if it has a lot of filings and metal it is time for a rebuild.
Hope this helps; Rate me highly;
Rich
RPM Northwest