TCC issues on 2004 XLT

[Jackson250]

Hi everyone

Got a 2004 XLT with 119k miles a few months ago. Been driving fine. Put about 2k miles on it, mostly highway.

I was on the highway driving around 55-65 MPH and the O/D off light started flashing. Shifting felt fine. Pulled into a lot to grab some lunch then started up again - light did not come on until I’d been driving for 5 miles or so. Once I got off the highway, I turned the car off and on and the light went out as I proceeded to my destination at city speeds - 20-30 MPH.

Took the car to a shop and they could not pull the codes because the light was not flashing. Told me to drive it until the light was flashing then bring it in. I did that and they said it was a TCC problem but did not say what exactly the codes were. Told me only way to fix it was to replace the transmission for $4500. I paid $2000 for the car… not planning to spend $4500 on one repair.

Does anyone have advice on next steps? The car seems to shift fine. I do notice that when I go from park to drive, I can feel it get into gear. It doesn’t lurch or anything, I just feel it happening. Not sure that is related.

Would changing the transmission fluid help? Should I try to find a shop that will just swap the TCC? What do you think is typical price for such a repair? Should I try to get a shop to give me the codes or can anyone recommend a decent reader that can pull transmission codes?

Would hate to give up on this car. Been great for camping and going to the beach.

Thanks everyone.

 

[mountaineer2004]

As you say it's shifting fine, if it were me, I'd put black tape over the O/D light and continue driving. If they're not causing driving concerns and it's not a red light safety item, I cover them and move forward in life. I had my ABS light covered for years.

 

[Jackson250]

As you say it's shifting fine, if it were me, I'd put black tape over the O/D light and continue driving. If they're not causing driving concerns and it's not a red light safety item, I cover them and move forward in life. I had my ABS light covered for years.

Haha thanks, mountaineer. I hear you. For now the shifting feels fine. I just want to avoid getting stranded somewhere if the problem progresses. Because I use the car for backpack trips we sometimes find ourselves in remote locations.

 

[Jackson250]

So today I pulled the fuses for the OBD and PCM based on a tip I saw in a prior thread. Drove about 10 miles at highway speeds and the O/D off light did not start flashing…

Also noticed less noisy shift from park to drive. Go figure.