Flashing Overdrive Light

[tripleoption]

Last night, while out hunting for food, my overdrive light started flashing. I was on city streets. A bit worried, I had the girl search the manual as I continued to drive. It said to take the truck in for a diagnostic check.

I took it in this morning. Mood is cheerful at the dealership. It wasn't flashing when I took it there, but they drove it for a bit and then checked it out. Man comes back to me with serious look on his face. Bad news he tells me. Takes my name and address and phone number, then tells me third gear is gone. Need to overhaul the transmission.

I'm under warranty, by 2000 miles! I've got just over 57k on the thing. I didn't ask how much this would cost, but I'm thinking not cheap at all. So far, it's a $50 deductible and the cost of extended insurance on my rental vehicle.

Until possibly Tuesday, I'm in a GMC Sonoma. Hey, the other choice was a Ford Focus. I can suck it up and handle the Sonoma. Unlimited mileage too, so I think I might take a trip around the state tomorrow.

Just wanted to share this story. Don't ignore the blinking lights, and don't forget to purchase the extended warranty. I'm now a believer.

I'm also considering trading in my truck on something else. Any suggestions? I like Explorers...any particular one better than this one?

 

[TPLYNCH]

The tranny on the 5.0 Ex's is usually considered much more reliable than the A4LD/4/5R55E's. Had you changed tranny fluid/filter?? U sure the dealership isn't just making $ on a warranty repair you don't need?? Did you feel any difference in shifting?

 

[tripleoption]

I have not changed the tranny filter or fluid. That could be a problem. I was on city streets, and it was stuck in a gear, running around 3k rpm at 35-40 mph. That started last night.

I've read exactly what you say about the 5.0 being better as far as transmissions go. But, there is certainly a difference in shifting. I didn't do any highway driving, but just on the streets I could tell it wasn't normal.

For 50 bucks, it's worth the hassle in my mind. I'm getting a tranny overhaul for 50 bucks. I'll take it.

(let me add...I bought it at 26k miles, and have not touched the tranny or it's fluids. I planned on doing it as soon as I move to my condo in May)

 

[Alec]

$50 for a rebuilt tranny isn't bad. Hopefully they replace anything that needs replacing. Ask for a new torque converter also if they weren't going to replace it. Even if you have to pay for it (few hundred), it's worth it for peace of mind.

 

[tripleoption]

By the way, I didn't think to ask at the dealership, but will the new work have some kind of warranty that goes beyond the 2k miles left on the extended one?

Has anyone here had this work done, and what can you tell me about it? What would make 3rd gear die, as opposed to the others?

 

[Alec]

They should give you at least a 6 month or year warranty on the tranny, regardless of the truck's warranty.

I don't think I've heard of just third gear going out on a 60k 4R70W.

 

[tripleoption]

Does any other vehicle have that tranny?

 

[BradE.]

Lots of other vehicles have that tranny. Most of Ford's 5.0 and 4.6 V8's have that tranny. My Lincoln Town Car has the 4R70W tranny.

Man, that's really strange about your X. The 4R70W is typically pretty bulletproof.

 

[reichhartkg]

I had a flashing O/D Off light a few months back, killed the engine, restarted and it went away. That was a few months ago and I haven't seen it again until a few days ago. I looked it up online and ended up here.

Also, about a week before the flashing light, I had a speedometer problem (which I noticed is also mentioned above)... one day while driving, the needle started bouncing from 0-80 repeatedly. I think I was going about 45-50 at the time. Is this related?

I changed my tranny fluid about 6 months ago and when I did, it took less than 1/2 of what the manual said it should before it started overflowing. Could this have something to do with it? Maybe it really did need all that fluid but the tube was blocked or something?

 

[reichhartkg]

Oh... also, it seems that the transmission is slow to shift sometimes.

 

[bmacd]

i'd be all over that $50 tranny swap...i just paid $2250 cash at 70k miles for a rebuild on my X's tranny (after i stupidly and constantly switched between reverse and drive trying to get myself out from a snow bank last year).

-=bmacd=-

 

[reichhartkg]

$50 tranny swap? Who's offering that?

 

[reichhartkg]

Hhmmmm... maybe I should finish reading all the posts before replying. nahhhhh...

Let's see if I can get all the info into this post.

I have never gotten the "clunk" or hard shift - just and occasional slow or late shift.

The only codes I've gotten from my ODBII reader were a bad O2 sensor (which I replaced) and misfires on cylinders 4 and 6 (which accompanied the O2 sensor warning the last time I got it). The last time I got the errors, I could not clear the codes with the ODBII reader. A day or two later, the speedometer started bouncing and that's when I pulled the battery. After that, the X seemed to run much more smoothly. However, a few weeks after that, I got the second O/D flashing.

So, I have a few reasons to think that it's electrical, but I've also seen it mentioned that a hot tranny can cause the O/D flasshing too so I'm wondering if the lube is low.

From experience (not by the book), how much lube does the tranny on a 99 4.0SOHC usually take?

 

[Robert]

Originally posted by reichhartkg
I had a flashing O/D Off light a few months back, killed the engine, restarted and it went away. That was a few months ago and I haven't seen it again until a few days ago. I looked it up online and ended up here.

Also, about a week before the flashing light, I had a speedometer problem (which I noticed is also mentioned above)... one day while driving, the needle started bouncing from 0-80 repeatedly. I think I was going about 45-50 at the time. Is this related?

I changed my tranny fluid about 6 months ago and when I did, it took less than 1/2 of what the manual said it should before it started overflowing. Could this have something to do with it? Maybe it really did need all that fluid but the tube was blocked or something?

First, it sounds like you might have an intermitant problem with your vehicle speed sensor (VSS). If it fails to produce a reading or bounces around like you saw, it will set a code. If it happens twice within a specific amount of time your OD light will come on. Your OD light is used as a diagnostics light whenever something isn't right with your transmission. There are several condidtions that will cause it to flash. If the light hasn't flashed for some time now and if your speedometer hasn't acted up again, I would just keep an eye out for it. If the light starts flashing again, take a look at your speedometer to see if it is bouncing around wildly again. If it is, then have the VSS looked at.

Second, I'd be willing to bet that when you changed your transmission fluid 6 months ago, you only dropped the pan and maybe changed the filter, right? The pan will hold less than half of the fluid in the transmission. The rest of your fluid is in the torque converter, tranny cooler(s), lines and valve body. The fluid in these places won't come out by just dropping the pan. I hope you removed all of the excess fluid in your transmission before you drove it.

 

[Joe_R]

Just to join the club....My 2002 XLT (6cyl) tranny is on it's way out, I believe. Have an appt. at the dealer tomorrow. Symptoms:
-tranny whine
-delay shifting into reverse..then a big 'clunck' into gear
-delay shifting into drive...then a big clunck' into gear
-O/D light now flashing

15K miles on the car. Probably worth it to invest in that extended warranty. Damned Fords.

 

[scottyboost]

I got that light last weekend while on a road trip, just when the trip started. I pulled over, checked the fluid and read the manual that stated "have the tranmission checked". It hasn't come back on since and nothing has functioned abnormally.

 

[Lewis Littleton]

Flashing O/D Light

Just to relay a similar incident with the flashing O/D light - My 2000 EB 5.0 AWD with 43,000 miles started flashing the O/D off light. Take it to local dealer who checks it out and says OBD codes indicated problem with torque converter and valve body. No slippage, no hard or soft shifts, fluid OK, good driveability etc. Service manager says must replace transmission.
I am suspicious but since I had the extended warranty I said OK. Just tonight and 2,000 miles later light starts flashing again but a stop and restart turned it off. This happened 3 times within about 15 minutes. Now this certainly does not sound like a transmission problem does it? Dealer says common problem with 5.0
tranny but I am still skeptical and wonder if the original tranny needed replacing. She goes back to dealer Mon. morning.