Hello all, I recently did a big swap of 2 1995 F-350s into 1. I started with a 95 F-350 7.3 diesel, E4od 4x4 with a severly rusted cab. I stripped the 4x4 down to frame, axles and transmission.
I then took the cab and engine from a 95 F-350 7.3 diesel, 5 speed manual 2x4 and swapped them to the 4x4 frame. I used the underhood wiring and PCM from the 4x4 cab swapped into the 2x4 cab. The in cab wiring is still from the 2x4.
When I swapped in the automatic column, the 2x4 wiring harness had the wires with plug, to plug the shifter O.D. control into. when the O.D. off button is pushed, the light doesn't come on. I checked with a test light the power going to said switch, test light lights up when probing the red with yellow wire at the center of the plug, when the button is pushed, there is power at I think is the tan with white wire. If I test the white with green wire, the O.D. off light illuminates.

Now my problem, when I drive the truck, if I place the trans shifter in drive and go to take off, the truck starts moving in either 2nd or 3rd gear, (will barely move). Place the shifter in first gear, and the truck will take off better, but seems like maybe in 2nd gear. Driving down the highway, the trans seems to only shift once, and I don't think overdrive is attained at all. 2500 RPM at 55MPH cruising RPM, I think the truck has 4:10 gears in the axles and 235/85-16 tires.

Our weather has just turned to crap today, expecting a foot of snow a day for the next 2-3 days, so I may not be able to test drive it at 55 MPH or above for a while. I do have a garage to work in, so any help or ideas anyone could give me would be very appreciated.
Thanks, Dan

 

Sounds like the transmission might be operating in failsafe mode - same as when the big connecter on the passenger side of the trans is unplugged. Check to make sure you have it plugged up and powered.

In failsafe you only get 2nd in 1 and 2 on the shifter. Then high gear for D.

 

Thanks for the info, I will have to check that out. It is possible that something got bumped out of place while installing the engine or cab.
Does it hurt anything to drive it like this?
D.B.

 

Yes it can damage the transmission. Stop driving it until it's fixed.

 

Hi all, I was finally able to get under the truck today and test for voltage at the trans plug. A test light lit up from the two rear most (I think rear anyway) sockets in the plug, so I believe there is power going into the transmission.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what I should check for next? I have spent a lot of time searching the internet and so far all I have seen for this problem is a lack of power to the trans. I suppose I should start checking continuity through all the wires, but any ideas anyone has would greatly help, (multiple heads are better than one) Thanks for any help if you can give it.
D.B.

 

check the fuses and relay in the power distribution box under the hood.

 

Its time to pull the codes from the ECU, that should tell you what the ECU is not liking and causing limp mode.

 

I've checked all fuses, both underhood and in cab, but I have not checked that relay, but if there is power at the trans, wouldn't that mean the relay is working?
As for codes, the check engine light isn't on, and I have no idea how to check "OBD I" codes. I have the older style scanner for Ford, up to 1994, and an "OBD II" scanner for 1996 + up Fords, but I don't have anything for a 1995.
Also the O/D off button isn't blinking.

Thanks for the suggestions.
D.B.

P.S. I heard our snow total from Monday afternoon to this morning was 42 inches. :-(

 

The older style scanner you have is for OBD-I vehicles, which yours is. There is no difference for a 1994 model year versus 1995. For that matter most F250/350 trucks were OBD-I until 1997.

 

Where is the plug located, all my 94 and older vehicles were under the hood on drivers side. My 95 has a plug that my OBD II scanner plugs into, but nothing happened when I tried it.
Is it under the dash somewhere?

 

I neglected to review your original post...you have a diesel. I am a gasser guy so I may have misled you. They are quite different on how the engine and transmission are controlled.

Make sure the data link has power. That may be why the code reader does not work.