Shifting
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
I assume you are having this problem with your 1997 F350? What engine and transmission does it have?
Is the Check Engine Light on or the O/D button on the shifter (assuming you have an E4OD transmission) blinking?
Is the Check Engine Light on or the O/D button on the shifter (assuming you have an E4OD transmission) blinking?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
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From: Kentucky
and a close-up:
courtesy of subford
Your truck could be using an OBD-II computer system or a OBD-I. If it is the former you will need a code reader. If it is the latter you can warm up the truck then do this: Fuel Injection Technical Library » How To Run a Self-Test
Check the emission label under the hood to see which version you have.
If you have an OD button on the end of the shifter then you have an E4OD transmission which is 100% electronic controlled. Any engine or transmission sensor malfunction can make the transmission shift abnormally.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
Yours does not have what in the cab? Computer (PCM)? Or a diagnostic port?
If there is no diagnostic port in the cab then your truck is running the older OBD-I style computer system. Which has the diagnostic port under hood near the driver side hinge.
If there is no diagnostic port in the cab then your truck is running the older OBD-I style computer system. Which has the diagnostic port under hood near the driver side hinge.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
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From: Kentucky
More than likely it is an electrical problem, but finding the root cause is the key here. More than once someone on this forum has had their E4OD replaced or rebuilt to find out the problem is still there. The only way to know for sure is to check for codes starting with the Key On Engine Off (KOEO) tests and Continuous Memory (CM) display.
Unless you want to start throwing away money I HIGHLY suggest you start by running the KOEO tests and CM display. Once any issues are found/resolve there then you can move onto the Key On Engine Running (KOER) tests.
Unless you want to start throwing away money I HIGHLY suggest you start by running the KOEO tests and CM display. Once any issues are found/resolve there then you can move onto the Key On Engine Running (KOER) tests.
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Cleveland, TN
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 20,783
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From: Kentucky
This or the same link I posted in Post# 6.....
Postmaster
Joined: Aug 2005
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From: Cleveland, TN
Yep, I knew you had already posted the link, but since he seemed to miss it, and proceeded to ask again, I thought I would throw it out again.... 
Tuned
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 398
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From: Vancouver Island BC
At what speeds and what gears does it do this? Mine will do it in traffic at certain speeds (right when youre hovering around the point it wants to shift into 4th/OD) It will flip between 3/4 everytime you so much as touch the gas/ let off the gas.
I find in those odd conditions, just hit the OD OFF button, and I'm golden, when I get to a spped that it is comfortably able to stay in OD I turn it back on.
But if its doing it all the time, then yeah, run the codes and figure out whats up...
I find in those odd conditions, just hit the OD OFF button, and I'm golden, when I get to a spped that it is comfortably able to stay in OD I turn it back on.
But if its doing it all the time, then yeah, run the codes and figure out whats up...