Not to beat a dead horse with all of the E4OD posts out there, but my 97 f350 7.3 drw unfortunately lost its transmission while I was on the road. It is in limp mode and the OD light is flashing. The code that I am getting is p1728. I know that this is an excessive slip code. The issue I have is that I had to take the truck to the dealer and had them install a Ford factory reman Trans. They called me and said the truck was ready and I picked it up. Took it on the highway and it is slipping, grinding and will not go into lockup. I took it back to the dealer and now they are telling me that I have a bad pcm. They say that the pcm is not commanding lockup......... I am a little confused why they say a bad pcm when the new Trans or t/c is grinding in all gears and even at idle. Sounds to me that the t/c that came with the trans is shot right from the get go.

I have scoured over just about every post and can not figure this out. The bad thing is that the truck is in Alabama at a dealer and I am renting a truck at $800 per week so i don't have to shut my business down while waiting. The Ford dealer said they do not know when the pm will show up. (Vendor part)

I saw on one of the posts that Mark submitted that in order for that code to be thrown, the transmission has to be in overdrive and the t/c being commanded lock up. Wouldn't that rule out the pcm being bad? Also since the dealer left the batteries disconnected all weekend now there is a p0603 KAM code. This would make since to me as the batteries were left disconnected, but that is why all of a sudden they say I need a new pcm also. Otherwise the truck runs like a champ for having 496,000 miles on it.

I am hoping Mark will give me some guidance here and if anyone else has anything tobhelp, it would be greatly appreciated.

on a side note, the chip is out of the truck and all 3 of the brake lights work and there are no led lights. I was feeling some shudder before it bit the dust on me and was hoping to make it back home to AZ, but only made it to Mobile AL and had to take it to the dealer.

thanks in advance.

 

Mark should chime in soon to help.

For what it's worth if I were in your shoes and paying $800/week for a rental truck that I wouldn't be getting reimbursed on I'd buy another truck. That way your $800/week actually goes towards something you own that you can sell later to recoup money instead of paying into a bottomless pit.

As for the transmission issue I'd be fighting with the dealer to make that right. They messed up and it should be on them to make it right.

I know youre not near the truck but a good independent shop should be able to tell you if the truck is commanding the transmission to shift and if it isn't they can bypass the truck and manually shift the transmission to see if it's an issue with the truck or
the transmission itself. Obviously the dealer should be able to do this as well but there's a reason they're called the stealership.

 

Find another PCM to swap in there just to rule that out.

 

Unfortunately buying another truck right now is not an option. As far as another pcm, the dealer is trying to get one but is having trouble getting one. We did try another com from another truck same year but the fueling code was different and my truck would not run right with the com from another good running truck. Funny how there are so many variations for the 97 being the last year for the obs trucks.

 

There are many circuits in the PCM. Just because it was able to set a P1728 doesn't mean the PCM is fine. It could be bad.

Having said that, I've never heard a bad PCM make the trans make noises like that. I think the dealer is guessing and isn't very good at guessing.

 

Thank you for the reply Mark. I was thinking the same thing myself, that they are just trying to guess. I just don't understand why they don't bring another transmission in and rule that aspect out. It is after all under warranty from ford being just installed. I can clear the codes and get a p1111 all clear on my autoenginuity. Wouldn't that rule out the pcm being bad? I am just at a loss here in what to do. It is very frustrating.

 

If your $15 speed control sensor ( that thing with two wires that plugs into the top of your differential and is held by one screw) is bad it will make your vehicle go berserk - transmission bucking, engine racing and not moving vehicle, dash board lights, speedometer, computer readout, etc.. I almost bought a new transmission for my '96 250 diesel until I changed that sensor and all suddenly everything returned to normal.

 

Hmmm, maybe this is why the stereo and power windows sometimes don't work for 30 seconds after turning the key, OD bucking, not always going into reverse, engine revving. Please tell me more about this Speed Control Sensor, is this the proper name?

 

Ford p500 called it a speed sensor. My mechanic called it a speed control sensor. 'A rose by any other name is still a rose.'

At the moment I am trying to find a fuel sending assembly (complete) for my rear tank. It must be the most valuable part in the US for being so rare. Apparently no after market. $400-558 at dealers when others models can be had for under $100.

 

Cancel, I found it...

I am trying to find (found it) a part number, P500 isn't valid according to the official Ford parts site.
Anyone know?

 

Here you are Sir:

VSS Rear Axle Speed Sensor 94-03 - Riffraff Diesel Performance

Red

 

P0500 is the diagnostic trouble code for a VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) malfunction. It is not the part number of the VSS.