My ford escort wont go in reverse

remove wheel on side. remove brake caliper/brakes, disconnect lower ball joint, remove axle shaft hub nut. push axle out of hub, then pull half shaft out of transmission. install reverse.

replace the transmission range sensor. Adjust the new sensor by loosening the bolts slightly, turning the key on, putting the truck in reverse, and turning until reverse light come on.

there are 2 possible sensors, depending on which transmission you have.

Depends.
In theory you could just change the 4 spark plugs for $20.
Put it costs more is you do all the filters, the PCV, check the EGR and purge valve, check any codes, check transmission fluid, etc.

no the tranny wont have to be dropped if it is just a leaky pan gasket.

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most shops charge 149.95 including the part but if you want to do this yourself here goes. remove the wheel on the side your replacing. remove the center big nut. (need impact or reall big breaker bar) unbolt the lower ball joint get a big prybar and insert it to where you can push down on the lower control arm. unbolt the tie rod end and smack it a few times to make it dislodge. smack the side of the ball joint with your big hammer a couple times then push down on the lower control arm till the ball joint separates from its stud. then tap on the end of the cv axle and pull out on the wheel assembly till the axle releases from the wheel assembly. using a smaller prybar get on the ground and get behind the big part of the axle near the transmission as you pull you need to pry between the transmission and the axle to get it to pop loose. put a drain pan under the transmission to catch the little bit of fluid that will come out. reinstall in reverse order. good luck

its inside the transmission and requires removing the valve body now this is where most people make the mistake and loose a bunch of little check balls dont and i mean dont turn the valve body upside down when you unbolt it and when you go to put it back on if your having problems with the check balls staying put try using a lil vaseline its tranny safe.

1. Jack the car up
2. Remove the wheel
3. Loosen the axle nut at the center of the hub
4. Remove the lower ball joint and tie rod from the hub. Disconnect the strut from the hub.
   
5. As you're swinging the hub out of the way, tap the center of the axle stub with a hammer a few times to loosen it, then push it back out of the hub, toward the transmission.
6. Insert a pry bar between the transmission and inboard CV stub, and gently pry outward in a couple places, until the axle pops out.
7. Place a drain pan under the inboard stub, and remove it.
   
8. Installation is the reverse of removal.

In an automatic transmission, if you lose reverse, it uually means it's replace or rebuild transmission time. You can check the fluid to see if it is up there but I'm betting your tranny going bad.

Good Luck

where are you trying to put the oil back in as the manual trans does not have a dip stick. on the lower front side there is a filler/level plug. you will need an allen key to remove it. you will need a small plastic bottle with a flexy plastic pipe to put the oil in. Keep topping up until the oil runs back out of the filler hole

try putting the transmission in reverse with the car off. you might have already tried this. just didnt know if it was grinding or if it just wont go in.