1700 & 0720 codes w/OD light flashing

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

So 6 months ago while driving my 2003 EXPLORER XLT 4WD 4.OL (5R55S) started having what seems to be trans issues followed by OD light flashing (mind u no problems where speedometer, cruise control,no slipping,ability to down shift as well as ability to go into reverse, no ck engine light accompanying codes whatsoever)...The best way I can describe it is this, it's like someone hit my gear shift & knocked it into neutral while driving. Over the last 6 months it has gradually gotten worse as it went from only doing this in upper gears to now I can't make it to the speed bump 1 house up without having to stop and trying to work it back into gear (which used to work but now almost zero luck) it originally threw 1700 & 0720 codes & just a week ago threw same codes...I'm gonna list below everything that HAS been done/checked in pursuit of a diagnosis....
1) Output Shaft Sensor replaced (part from scrap yard)
2) Fluid drained & replaced (fluid was very dark & low with no metal shavings)
3)Battery area/connectors were thoroughly cleaned...
4)Ground was checked by master electrician & cleared as possible concern 5) 4wd module was unhooked-problem still remained 6) Shift selector position was checked-still not sure if this is correctly in position...any ideas on what to do next??? My next move will be putting it on trailer & taking it to local shop to be put on a snap on computer to diagnosis it, however that is like trying to steal candy from a baby lol
TIA yall

 

[Mike65]

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you may have internal trans problems. Check out the attached links. Hope this helps.

Google Search

2003 ford explorer code p0720 code - Google Search

 

[Fix4Dirt]

So 6 months ago while driving my 2003 EXPLORER XLT 4WD 4.OL (5R55S) started having what seems to be trans issues followed by OD light flashing (mind u no problems where speedometer, cruise control,no slipping,ability to down shift as well as ability to go into reverse, no ck engine light accompanying codes whatsoever)...The best way I can describe it is this, it's like someone hit my gear shift & knocked it into neutral while driving. Over the last 6 months it has gradually gotten worse as it went from only doing this in upper gears to now I can't make it to the speed bump 1 house up without having to stop and trying to work it back into gear (which used to work but now almost zero luck) it originally threw 1700 & 0720 codes & just a week ago threw same codes...I'm gonna list below everything that HAS been done/checked in pursuit of a diagnosis....
1) Output Shaft Sensor replaced (part from scrap yard)
2) Fluid drained & replaced (fluid was very dark & low with no metal shavings)
3)Battery area/connectors were thoroughly cleaned...
4)Ground was checked by master electrician & cleared as possible concern 5) 4wd module was unhooked-problem still remained 6) Shift selector position was checked-still not sure if this is correctly in position...any ideas on what to do next??? My next move will be putting it on trailer & taking it to local shop to be put on a snap on computer to diagnosis it, however that is like trying to steal candy from a baby lol
TIA yall

if im understanding you correctly, id ask does manual 1 and 2 work? controlled by different solenoids iirc perhaps @Lee's Automotive can confirm

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

if im understanding you correctly, id ask does manual 1 and 2 work? controlled by different solenoids iirc perhaps @Lee's Automotive can confirm

Ok so at one point it threw 0775 (solenoid B circuit malfunction) however once cleared did not return & when 1st put on code reader along with 1700/0720 it threw codes for gear 1 & 2 incorrect ratio which when cleared did not return as well ...to answer your question tho, when problem first presented itself I was on way out of town (about hour-ish from my house) I was in 5th gear & slowed down to let a semi over to pass & it acted like I hit gear shifter into neutral but quickly recovered then few miles down road it did it again so I pulled over and disconnected battery for 20mins (once computer reset I got back on road) everytime I got up to about 45-50 it would repeat same pattern so I'd pull over for 5mins & start again (this went on for the next 35 miles to nearest truck stop/exit...which took me over an hour to accomplish ) then got a trailer brought it home and slowly over these last few months it has went from that to erratic patterns of all gears positions acting up while throwing OD light blinking & being able to still drive few miles to gas station to now the first time I put it in drive & touch gas it immediately acts like I hit gear shifter into neutral throws OD light blinking which pretty much zero luck of gear position recovery so I haven't tried anymore once I got it into driveway (that's when I last put it on reader & got 1700 & 0720 again) Sorry so long winded but I just want to make sure I cover everything...I can do lil things to my truck like spark plugs, sensors, oil,etc however I'm no mechanic so don't want to leave anything out that could help with diagnosis as this problem is way over my head lol

if im understanding you correctly, id ask does manual 1 and 2 work? controlled by different solenoids iirc perhaps @Lee's Automotive can confirm

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

Ok so at one point it threw 0775 (solenoid B circuit malfunction) however once cleared did not return & when 1st put on code reader along with 1700/0720 it threw codes for gear 1 & 2 incorrect ratio which when cleared did not return as well ...to answer your question tho, when problem first presented itself I was on way out of town (about hour-ish from my house) I was in 5th gear & slowed down to let a semi over to pass & it acted like I hit gear shifter into neutral but quickly recovered then few miles down road it did it again so I pulled over and disconnected battery for 20mins (once computer reset I got back on road) everytime I got up to about 45-50 it would repeat same pattern so I'd pull over for 5mins & start again (this went on for the next 35 miles to nearest truck stop/exit...which took me over an hour to accomplish ) then got a trailer brought it home and slowly over these last few months it has went from that to erratic patterns of all gears positions acting up while throwing OD light blinking & being able to still drive few miles to gas station to now the first time I put it in drive & touch gas it immediately acts like I hit gear shifter into neutral throws OD light blinking which pretty much zero luck of gear position recovery so I haven't tried anymore once I got it into driveway (that's when I last put it on reader & got 1700 & 0720 again) Sorry so long winded but I just want to make sure I cover everything...I can do lil things to my truck like spark plugs, sensors, oil,etc however I'm no mechanic so don't want to leave anything out that could help with diagnosis as this problem is way over my head lol

@Lee's Automotive any thoughts perhaps?

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

Thank you, just saw this...new phone=notifications off lol It does give way more insight than my last 9 monthsish of endless Google searches have...

Welcome to the forum. Sounds like you may have internal trans problems. Check out the attached links. Hope this helps.

Google Search

2003 ford explorer code p0720 code - Google Search

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

So 6 months ago while driving my 2003 EXPLORER XLT 4WD 4.OL (5R55S) started having what seems to be trans issues followed by OD light flashing (mind u no problems where speedometer, cruise control,no slipping,ability to down shift as well as ability to go into reverse, no ck engine light accompanying codes whatsoever)...The best way I can describe it is this, it's like someone hit my gear shift & knocked it into neutral while driving. Over the last 6 months it has gradually gotten worse as it went from only doing this in upper gears to now I can't make it to the speed bump 1 house up without having to stop and trying to work it back into gear (which used to work but now almost zero luck) it originally threw 1700 & 0720 codes & just a week ago threw same codes...I'm gonna list below everything that HAS been done/checked in pursuit of a diagnosis....
1) Output Shaft Sensor replaced (part from scrap yard)
2) Fluid drained & replaced (fluid was very dark & low with no metal shavings)
3)Battery area/connectors were thoroughly cleaned...
4)Ground was checked by master electrician & cleared as possible concern 5) 4wd module was unhooked-problem still remained 6) Shift selector position was checked-still not sure if this is correctly in position...any ideas on what to do next??? My next move will be putting it on trailer & taking it to local shop to be put on a snap on computer to diagnosis it, however that is like trying to steal candy from a baby lol
TIA yall

@CallMeSyd interested to know what ur opinion is please & ty

 

[Fix4Dirt]

Ok so at one point it threw 0775 (solenoid B circuit malfunction) however once cleared did not return & when 1st put on code reader along with 1700/0720 it threw codes for gear 1 & 2 incorrect ratio which when cleared did not return as well ...to answer your question tho, when problem first presented itself I was on way out of town (about hour-ish from my house) I was in 5th gear & slowed down to let a semi over to pass & it acted like I hit gear shifter into neutral but quickly recovered then few miles down road it did it again so I pulled over and disconnected battery for 20mins (once computer reset I got back on road) everytime I got up to about 45-50 it would repeat same pattern so I'd pull over for 5mins & start again (this went on for the next 35 miles to nearest truck stop/exit...which took me over an hour to accomplish ) then got a trailer brought it home and slowly over these last few months it has went from that to erratic patterns of all gears positions acting up while throwing OD light blinking & being able to still drive few miles to gas station to now the first time I put it in drive & touch gas it immediately acts like I hit gear shifter into neutral throws OD light blinking which pretty much zero luck of gear position recovery so I haven't tried anymore once I got it into driveway (that's when I last put it on reader & got 1700 & 0720 again) Sorry so long winded but I just want to make sure I cover everything...I can do lil things to my truck like spark plugs, sensors, oil,etc however I'm no mechanic so don't want to leave anything out that could help with diagnosis as this problem is way over my head lol

so it loses gears wgen hot? id read trans temp (its an OBD pid) when it loses thise gears, if you can, so that we can figure out if its a heat thing ir a time thing. since 5 mins i cant see it cooling down that much? however, in general, if youre losing hears hot, id say the problem lies deeper than the VB

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

so it loses gears wgen hot? id read trans temp (its an OBD pid) when it loses thise gears, if you can, so that we can figure out if its a heat thing ir a time thing. since 5 mins i cant see it cooling down that much? however, in general, if youre losing hears hot, id say the problem lies deeper than the VB

No I can start it up, put it in drive but once I hit gas pedal it's like it's forever deciding what gear comes next/or like its in forever neutral from then on ...I used to be able to work it into gear but last time driven no such luck, just got enough out of the 1/2 block drive to throw od light to read codes

 

[Fix4Dirt]

No I can start it up, put it in drive but once I hit gas pedal it's like it's forever deciding what gear comes next/or like its in forever neutral from then on ...I used to be able to work it into gear but last time driven no such luck, just got enough out of the 1/2 block drive to throw od light to read codes

so now when hot you effectively dont have gears, unless its shut down to reset? and the manual 1/2 dont work? id wonder if line pressure is still building? clogged? range sensor? or there is internal issue. id lean torward internal, but who knows lol

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

Exactly story of my life...it doesn't matter if it's hot or cold basically but internal VS not is as u know 2 different repair ballgames lol if I could get it 8 miles from my house I have a shop.willing to put it on a snap on reader for just $20....then I'd know the answer to internal VS not....

so now when hot you effectively dont have gears, unless its shut down to reset? and the manual 1/2 dont work? id wonder if line pressure is still building? clogged? range sensor? or there is internal issue. id lean torward internal, but who knows lol

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

Exactly story of my life...it doesn't matter if it's hot or cold basically but internal VS not is as u know 2 different repair ballgames lol if I could get it 8 miles from my house I have a shop.willing to put it on a snap on reader for just $20....then I'd know the answer to internal VS not....

Once in drive and gas pedal is applied no gears no matter if just leaving driveway

 

[Lee's Automotive]

@Lee's Automotive any thoughts perhaps?

Ok so reading through all of this I'm going to say you either have internal damage or a severely blown out valve body gasket one thing I would do is check line pressure and see what it is because if you don't have the right line pressure gears will not engage or hold also as @Fix4Dirt mentioned check trans temp also if you have forscan trans temp and line pressure is obd pids in the software also when you changed your fluid and filter did you use a motorcraft filter and mercon V?

 

[Lee's Automotive]

@DoraNotSoExplorer Cheapest thing first is solenoids and valve body gasket which you should get from ford

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

@DoraNotSoExplorer Cheapest thing first is solenoids and valve body gasket which you should get from ford

Ok ty

 

[DoraNotSoExplorer]

Ok ty

Ok so reading through all of this I'm going to say you either have internal damage or a severely blown out valve body gasket one thing I would do is check line pressure and see what it is because if you don't have the right line pressure gears will not engage or hold also as @Fix4Dirt mentioned check trans temp also if you have forscan trans temp and line pressure is obd pids in the software also when you changed your fluid and filter did you use a motorcraft filter and mercon V?

I would have to ask the person that changed it...I'll find out n ck back

 

[Lee's Automotive]

Ok ty

I would have to ask the person that changed it...I'll find out n ck back

Alright man anytime

 

[CallMeSyd]

@CallMeSyd interested to know what ur opinion is please & ty

Are you in my Facebook group (Ford Explorers 3rd Generation)? I am much more active on there than here since I have to manage the group. If you're not in the group go ahead and join. When it asks you what your year and trim is just type ExplorerForum and I'll know we've met lol. I've gotta run right now.

 

[CallMeSyd]

@CallMeSyd interested to know what ur opinion is please & ty

Hey I'm back. I'm trying my best to follow what you've got going on. It's sounding like you have a line pressure issue, but I'm unsure of the source. I feel like it's possibly a VFS 1 Modulator issue, but the root cause could still be a number things. Pressure test would help a lot. It would tell you right away if it's a line pressure control solenoid (A or B). It could be caused by a pressure control solenoid, but it should maintain a code for it if it's an ongoing issue. I was thinking it could be a valve body issue, but if I'm understanding what it's doing, it doesn't quite seem that way. I'll see if I can determine anything that might help. Can you tell us specifically which gears are working including manual 1, 2, 3, D, and R? And when you put it in drive, does it go a little bit like 1st gear is working but then it feels like it drops out of gear? And if so, does it do the same thing in manual 1? Also, when is the neutral feeling happening (only if you do a certain thing or only in certain gears)? Also, and I thought someone had mentioned this but I guess I imagined it, if your shift cable or range sensor are not properly adjusted, they won't jive with one another, and that can cause issues similar to what you're describing. Please explain what "work it back into gear" means. Do you mean like if you moved the shift lever in and out of gear or some other kind of thing like you see in the movies where they have to smack it just right in a certain order, bang a frying pan next to it and tickle it with a feather and suddenly it springs back to life?