As the title states. Anyone ever seen this or know why? It only happened once.
2001 V10

 

From previous threads (never experienced it myself) it means some malfunction was detected in the transmission operation.

Apparently a Ford dealer is the only one who can pull a scan of transmission codes.

I would get it scanned and determine what to do from there.

Hopefully it is not something serious.

Good luck,

Tom

 

Had it happen to my 06 Explorer and it was a major mechanical failure which costs the dealer $$$ as my vehicle was under warrenty at the time. My suggestion is to take your vehicle to a good garage and have them diagnose it. Cross your fingers it isnt anything major...

 

That's not right. The parts stores that read codes free can't read Ford transmission codes, but any good independent shop can, not just the dealer.

 

I vaguely remember that stink. Auto manufactuers were able to pretty much keep their software and codes in-house. But it was eventually ruled that they had to share all of this with independant repair shops.

Back to the subject.... I had my overdrive light flash once upon a time. It went away and never showed it's ugly blinking again. I considered it to a "computer fart".

There's all kinds of unexplained "computer farts" going around. The other night my interior lights came on while I was driving along. I pulled off the road, turned the Excursion off for 20 seconds and fired it up again. The interior lights were back to normal after I started it up.

 

Was the speedometer reading correctly at the same time? Had that happen to mine a few times, before I noticed when it was flashing the speedometer was not reading as well. Ended up being a bad VSS. Took it out and replaced with new and been working fine since.

 

The ghosts are lonely in the Ex since you don't drive it often enough now.

 

Mine did it and it stalled a few times. I had to replace the OSS. Like $25 from PGE.

 

The basic code readers can't read the enhanced codes but scanners can like the SnapOn Modis I use. I'd definitely get it checked - better to at least know so you don't get stranded somewhere.

 

oh-oh ... mine did that and it wouldnt quit. Took it to a tranny shop and it needed a new main computer. About 1100 dollers ,was covered under warrenty and only a ford dealer could install .

 

Mine did it once towing heavy and my edge evo checked the code and cleared it while I was still driving. po 783 3-4 shift error. I left it cruise going up some rolling hills and was hunting a bit for gears. Took off the cruise and no more blinking light.

 

before any of the guess repair, just pull into autozone or advanced one day and see if there is any codes stored in the memory. even though the check engine light isn't on, you still might have a stored code.

if it comes up as a P0720, P0721, P0722 type code, there are a few different solutions.

FIRST before anything........ have you done a tune up (plugs/boots)? the reason i say this, is because i fought the flashing OD light too. i read probably 30 different web sites that described this issue. when mine was flashing, the truck would shudder and die, well this was due to the torque converter locking up when it wasn't supposed to. a cracked plug boot that is "arcing" over to the intake manifold CAN cause this issue, due to the interuption in signal that the torque converter is getting. the torque converter sees a "ground" charge to complete the switch and lock......thus stalling the truck. next is possible the OSS on the tail shaft of the transmission, and lastly is an alternator issue....... the alternator issue can be caused by a worn diode in the alt.

if it hasn't came back on since then, then it may have been a glitch but watch for it again, and see if the truck exhibits any kind of actions when it is flashing.

 

I had just started the truck when it happened, so it was idling in park at the time it flashed. It only flashed 3 or 4 times then went out. It hasn't happened again since.

 

Those codes won't come up if you read the codes at an auto parts store. They are not capable of reading transmission codes. You need someone with a high end scanner, and the auto parts stores don't use them.

 

My P0720 code showed up on a store bought scanner when the CEL came on.