Hi, I'm new to this forum, and completely new to Ford trucks - or any kind of truck to be honest.

My fiance has always wanted a pick-up, so we recently bought a 1996 Ford F-250 Diesel, V8 with Automatic transmission and OD with 191K miles on it, and very little rust. We bought it for $2000 thinking we got a really good deal, then took it to our mechanic who told us that the entire brakes system is completely shot - and unsafe, and it'll cost us $850 to replace the entire system, front and back. Apparently the calipers are busted.

I don't know what any of this means, but I did ask my dad and he said that's not a bad price for both front and rear brakes, including the calipers. We went ahead and had them done.

Now, the one thing the mechanic told us is that the overdrive light is flashing. He said the code reader said it's a problem in the transmission and that we would need to take it to a transmission specialist or it won't pass emissions.

I'm thinking, we've already spent upwards of $3500 in taxes and repairs to get this truck roadworthy, and now there's a transmission problem, too? We didn't see any flashing light, nor did we experience any issues in shifting when we test drove it.

Does anyone know what the flashing OD light means, what the problem could be, and how much it should cost to fix something like that? (Or - if you're living in the northern Connecticut area - know anyone who might be able to fix it cheaply?)

This is sounding more and more expensive by the minute... :-(

 

At $3500 you still have a bargin.
If the OD light is indeed flashing, it means that the computer has detected a problem. May be something simple but you need to take it to a transmission shop as they are the only ones likely to have a code scanner that can read the trouble codes.

 

Hmm, okay. Thanks. Good to know :-)

 

Any GOOD independent shop can read the codes. The auto parts stores that read codes CANNOT read these codes.

It could be a simple sensor problem, a corroded wire, or it might need a new transmission. It's impossible to say without knowing what code was stored in the computer's memory.

 

Flashing o/d light is a transmission specific fault code. I'm telling you from experience...If you brake light on the cab has a burnt out bulb it will throw a torque converter clutch slippage code. Make sure all the brake lights are working, every bulb.

If thats not it, could be alot of things. Does the speedo work correctly?

 

You say its shifting OK? You also say you have never seen the OD light flash? Those are two contradictions because if the OD light flashes it will go into limp mode and shift very hard. Right now I'm wondering about your mechanic.

 

Get the code ,, it will be worth the money to know ...

 

OK, my fiance said it is shifting hard when he drove it. It must have happened between us test driving it and the guy delivering the truck, because it wasn't doing it on Sunday when we drove it, but he said it was doing it yesterday.

I think the speedo was working fine.

I'll check the brake lights, too, that's a good idea. Thanks for the tips!

 

When driving t watch the speedo to see if it's jumping up and down.
Don't drive it to much with it in limp mode cause if it's something simple it could cause it to have to replace the trans

 

Oh, wonderful... we have to drive it about 35 miles home today to take it to a transmission specialist, do you think it's safe to drive it that far?

 

Yea just take it easy

 

I am interested to see the results from the trans shop.

As for being safe for that distance, its a hard call. If it is your only means of getting it to the shop, I have had to run one in on its last leg before!

 

Will let you know the results.

I don't want to keep it at my parents' house, and I'd rather take it to a local transmission place.

 

Reset the code by pulling the battery cables off both batteries and touching both sets of positive and negative together. It discharges the code memory. Should put off limp mode a lil longer and give the chance to see if it comes back. Check your brake lights first as this is the easiest check and fix. If one of ems out its gotta be done to eliminate that possibility. Hate to see you pay a couple hundred for a tranny guy to diagnose then change a .50 light bulb. Just reset it after the bulb change

 

I learned something new today. I had no idea brake light bulbs can cause a trans slip code. Why would anyone engineer a truck that way?