O/D light flashing. I can't get a break

[Slotz00]

Ok so just installed a used tranny and all was going fine and now today the O/D light started flashing. I disconnected the battery for a bit to reset and it did go away for a bit 50ish miles. When I was driving it returned to flashing with no abnormally high RPM's as I have read about but did have the hard shifting in and out of lower gears which seems to be expected. I know I have to get the codes read but is there someone other then a ford dealership that can pull the codes?

Other then the codes are there other symptoms that may help me diagnose?

Its a 98 4.0 SOHC with 5R55E tranny with 4x4.

Thanks

 

[drdoom]

Getting the codes are the first thing, any pro mechanic should have the scanner. Transmission shops are good place. Do it yourself if you have the equipment. Your time at this point would be best spent doing that, then post back up and make sure you get the numbers, most shops want to toss you a quick verbal, not giving away any secrets lol! Best wishes. PS: you probably need a torque converter.

 

[Slotz00]

I see why you go by Drdoom. lol. I have to find my bluetooth odbii reader to see if it pulls tranny codes. Have a feeling it wont. TC is better then a tranny though I am not looking forward to pulling it again.

 

[Slotz00]

I found the reader and no codes. I am mad at myself because someone suggested replacing the TC when I put in the tranny and I didn't. I blame me. Tranny shops charge to read codes?

 

[drdoom]

Some don't, just depends. A national chain advertises free diagnostics. Thing is, shop grade scanner costs thousands of dollars, plus yearly updates. Ford transmission codes can't be accessed using a run of the mill scanner. For instance I have an older Actron, cost 200 bones BITD, and like most it won't read those codes (or ABS, GEM, or SRS). But a Honda for instance, it will read. So I use a laptop for Ford diagnostics now.

 

[SoNic67]

I found the reader and no codes. I am mad at myself because someone suggested replacing the TC when I put in the tranny and I didn't. I blame me. Tranny shops charge to read codes?

Do you have a laptop that can interact with an ELM327 OBD reader?
Search it on Amazon, they come in Bluetooth or WiFi versions.
I found out that FOScan software reads transmission, ABS, PATS, GEM, ETAP codes...

 

[Slotz00]

I have this reader.

http://www.amazon.com/BAFX-Products...ndroid/dp/B005NLQAHS/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

Seems good but not sure if it can read tranny codes if I had the right software.

In the reviews some have said it reads tranny codes but not sure what make car.

 

[Slotz00]

Just realized my scanner is Bluetooth only and the FORScan does not do BT but WiFi. Bummer.

drdoom what do you use with your laptop to read codes if I may ask?

 

[SoNic67]

Forscan does work with BT, that's what I have. Your laptop needs to have BT, and be paired with the ELM327...

 

[drdoom]

Because I wanted a quality interface, and did not want to spend the $80-100 for a good BT (I have BT laptop & smartphone), and then there was a price drop on a real nice USB (30 bones), so basically because it is what I had available.

 

[Slotz00]

Ok just went to local tranny chain and surprisingly super nice people. The dang O/D light stopped flashing on the way to the shop but they pulled P0741 code anyhow. So knowing that it seems there could be numerous things that could cause it. Where do I start? It doesn't seem to have any drive issues at this point. I do have a reman VB from Central Valve Body that I got for my other tranny that after I installed the reverse band broke so I got nervous and didn't put in the used tranny I got. Worth a shot if the TCC solenoid is bad right?

On the right track? Anything else to look for?

Thanks for the assistance.

 

[drdoom]

What you want to watch out for is when the driving issues begin, watch the fluid color. I'm someone who admits to driving with a P0741 and most folks here can tell you it did not end well. If you are curious just Google "trial by fire 5R55E".

 

[SoNic67]

That ignored code eventually killed my Mercury Sable.

On a long uphill incline, 200 miles from home, it just gave out. Ended up towing it to a storage (AAA), then paid a friend (with a car platform) the diesel to bring it back home. Changed the solenoid (some 5 hours of my labor) and nothing changed. I guess the TC was toasted... didn't feel like digging more into it.