97 Explorer Sport ~ OD Light blinking causing trans to slip really bad

[Car 42]

The moment the OD Light started to blink on my 97 Ford Explorer Sport with Control Trac 4wd, the shifting from 2nd to 3rd started to slipping really bad, like the whole tranny is shot. I'm sure there is a simple fix, just as fast as the problem started. It was running great until the light started blinking. Anybody run into this issue with good results?

 

[410Fortune]

The light is blinking because of the slipping in your transmission
If the control trac transfer case was the issue the 4wd lights would be flashing

The light flashing indicates there is a transmission trouble code in the computers memory
This code will tell you where to look for repairing the 5r55e auto trans

You need to retrieve the trouble codes
Write down the actual code numbers

The flashing od light also indicates the trans is running in limp mode, it is designed to get you to the nearest dealership for diagnosis
Continuing to drive on it can lead to catastrophic trans failure (more repairs when rebuild is due)

How Many miles on the sport?

 

[Car 42]

The light is blinking because of the slipping in your transmission
If the control trac transfer case was the issue the 4wd lights would be flashing

The light flashing indicates there is a transmission trouble code in the computers memory
This code will tell you where to look for repairing the 5r55e auto trans

You need to retrieve the trouble codes
Write down the actual code numbers

The flashing od light also indicates the trans is running in limp mode, it is designed to get you to the nearest dealership for diagnosis
Continuing to drive on it can lead to catastrophic trans failure (more repairs when rebuild is due)

How Many miles on the sport?

Thx for your response. My buddy who works at a Chevy dealership, pulled up code 646. Although it's a 97, it only has 138K on it. I had the trans rebuilt in 2008 with 120K on it. It's funny you mentioned the 4wd lights flashing. They were flashing for several months, but then just stopped flashing a few months ago. But just as suddenly as that happened, the od lights started flashing just 2 days ago and went from no problems to really bad slipping from 2nd to 3rd gear shift. Whatever the problem, it definitely coincides with the od lights flashing.

 

[410Fortune]

So with the 4x4 lights flashing you just kept driving it?
The control trac transfer case was slipping
Or detecting slippage…
I bet if you drain the fluid from your t case it’s black and it may have bit of nylon in it.
Finding a good 97 control trac t case is near impossible… they have a speed sensor in them 96-97 so 98+’wont work
I usually convert them to non control trac at this point, install a bw1354 t case from a ranger instead

P0646 is for ac
Clutch circuit low… this is not the transmission code
You need to scan manufacture specific codes to get into the trans codes

Driving it with the light flashing and the trans slipping will likely destroy it… it could already be needing a full remanufacture at this stage

Aside from
Pulling the codes we would drop the pan and check condition of fluid and look for glitter or bits of metal

 

[Car 42]

So with the 4x4 lights flashing you just kept driving it?
The control trac transfer case was slipping
Or detecting slippage…
I bet if you drain the fluid from your t case it’s black and it may have bit of nylon in it.
Finding a good 97 control trac t case is near impossible… they have a speed sensor in them 96-97 so 98+’wont work
I usually convert them to non control trac at this point, install a bw1354 t case from a ranger instead

P0646 is for ac
Clutch circuit low… this is not the transmission code
You need to scan manufacture specific codes to get into the trans codes

Driving it with the light flashing and the trans slipping will likely destroy it… it could already be needing a full remanufacture at this stage

Aside from
Pulling the codes we would drop the pan and check condition of fluid and look for glitter or bits of metal

Yeah, when the 4X4 lights started flashing, the Ford dealer (& this forum) told me it was just a communications issue with the transfer case and that it would do no damage. With the OD light flashing, it can cause real damage. I don't understand that when the OD light started flashing, immediately, the shifting started to slip. It really has nothing to do with overdrive but rather shifting between 2nd & 3rd.

 

[410Fortune]

The light is just an indicator to let you know the trans is in limp mode
They cannot add several trans
Trouble Lights, so there is no “2-3” Trouble light
all trans issues are displayed by a flashing od light

This is covered in your user
Manual

Your dealer is wrong
Flashing 4x4 lights again mean there is a trouble code stored. Usually the flash because the speed sensors don’t match what is expected to be seen, like slipping in the transfer case between the input shaft speed sensor and the output speed sensor.
I have replaced countless control trac t cases I order to keep older explorers on the road. In 97 the gem module is the 4x4 control trac control module. The lights may actually flash in a sequence which is telling you the trouble code the t case controller is having (gem module) communications issue? Really? What was the fix? Keep driving? Did they eve check the fluid?

Control trac transfer cases do not self heal
Neither do transmissions


Show Me where this forum told you to ignore the flashing transfer case lights and I will show you 100 threads where they definitely did not.

Dealerhsip tell you that? will that I can believe… and you need a new dealership service department

Read your owners manual about the flashing lights… it will tell you to seek repair immediately

 

[Car 42]

The light is just an indicator to let you know the trans is in limp mode
They cannot add several trans
Trouble Lights, so there is no “2-3” Trouble light
all trans issues are displayed by a flashing od light

This is covered in your user
Manual

Your dealer is wrong
Flashing 4x4 lights again mean there is a trouble code stored. Usually the flash because the speed sensors don’t match what is expected to be seen, like slipping in the transfer case between the input shaft speed sensor and the output speed sensor.
I have replaced countless control trac t cases I order to keep older explorers on the road. In 97 the gem module is the 4x4 control trac control module. The lights may actually flash in a sequence which is telling you the trouble code the t case controller is having (gem module) communications issue? Really? What was the fix? Keep driving? Did they eve check the fluid?

Control trac transfer cases do not self heal
Neither do transmissions


Show Me where this forum told you to ignore the flashing transfer case lights and I will show you 100 threads where they definitely did not.

Dealerhsip tell you that? will that I can believe… and you need a new dealership service department

Read your owners manual about the flashing lights… it will tell you to seek repair immediately

Thanks 410 for your response. Actually, the 4X4 lights were flashing (intermediately) for over a year, when it suddenly stopped on its own. I've tried to engage High or Low 4WD, when they started flashing, and nothing happened, so I just left it alone. As far as the OD light flashing, once that started, I immediately had shifting issues, but as soon as I reset it by disconnecting the battery for several minutes, the OD light stopped flashing, and the shifting issues were gone. About a week later, the OD light started flashing again, along with the sifting problems, and again, I reset it and now it's been running great ever since, (fingers crossed). If I could figure out how to get the OD light to not flash, there are no issues with the trans. Two weeks now, with no OD light & no shifting problems.

 

[Car 42]

The light is just an indicator to let you know the trans is in limp mode
They cannot add several trans
Trouble Lights, so there is no “2-3” Trouble light
all trans issues are displayed by a flashing od light

This is covered in your user
Manual

Your dealer is wrong
Flashing 4x4 lights again mean there is a trouble code stored. Usually the flash because the speed sensors don’t match what is expected to be seen, like slipping in the transfer case between the input shaft speed sensor and the output speed sensor.
I have replaced countless control trac t cases I order to keep older explorers on the road. In 97 the gem module is the 4x4 control trac control module. The lights may actually flash in a sequence which is telling you the trouble code the t case controller is having (gem module) communications issue? Really? What was the fix? Keep driving? Did they eve check the fluid?

Control trac transfer cases do not self heal
Neither do transmissions


Show Me where this forum told you to ignore the flashing transfer case lights and I will show you 100 threads where they definitely did not.

Dealerhsip tell you that? will that I can believe… and you need a new dealership service department

Read your owners manual about the flashing lights… it will tell you to seek repair immediately

Thanks 410 for your response. Actually, the 4X4 lights were flashing (intermediately) for over a year, when it suddenly stopped on its own. I've tried to engage High or Low 4WD, when they started flashing, and nothing happened, so I just left it alone. As far as the OD light flashing, once that started, I immediately had shifting issues, but as soon as I reset it by disconnecting the battery for several minutes, the OD light stopped flashing, and the shifting issues were gone. About a week later, the OD light started flashing again, along with the sifting problems, and again, I reset it and now it's been running great ever since, (fingers crossed). If I could figure out how to get the OD light to not flash, there are no issues with the trans. Two weeks now, with no OD light & no shifting problems.

 

[410Fortune]

They don’t heal themselves
There is a transmission trouble code in the computers memory
It is alot cheaper to fix it now then it is to just keep driving

The light flashes because of a trans issue
The trans is not slipping because of the light