G'day Fellas,
I have a F250 Superduty MY2005 (November 2005) 7.3ltr. It is the same as your 2003 7.3. We here in Australia kept getting the 7.3 plant right up until the end of 2005. Mine was first registered in February 2006.
So I'm talking 2003 in your lingo. She has 204,000Km (126,800mil) on the clock. She is mainly used as my Caravan (Trailer) and Boat hauler. She is faithful up until now with only a CPS and a ICP go on her. I always carry spare sensors (CPS, ICP, IPR, VSS, MAP etc) on board as I go very remote here in the Aussie Outback.
Sorry I digress, back on subject
So, A few weeks ago the truck done a little lurch and near died and another lurch, near died again and settled down, all at low speed 60kmph. It had no more issues and she ran just fine. Had same issue a couple of days later. Got home and checked for codes on the Edge Insight and pulled code P0500-VSS Fault. I cleared that code and she continued to drive perfectly no issues at all.
Anyway a couple of days ago she threw a proper tantrum. Harsh up shifting, hash down shift and almost no throttle response at times.
Pulled over, shut her down for a few minutes. She started no drama as usual, moved off and very soon started the same tantrum.
I didn't notice if the OD Light was flashing (didn't actually look )
I nursed her home and put my AE over her and pulled the following codes:
P1746 Solenoid A open Circuit
P1747 Solenoid A short Circuit
P0500 did not reappear.
Had the AIH code (deleted), KAM etc due the batteries being disconnected for a long time.
Cleared the codes.
Disconnected batteries.
Visually checked the transmission connector and loom and couldn't see anything obviously wrong with it. Cleaned out both the connector and the Solenoid Pack pins with electronic cleaner and brew out with air.
Replaced the VSS.
Starts easily as usual went for short run and had the same symptoms but not as harsh shifts (but still rough shifting though) and no or delayed throttle response at times.
This time noticed OD light flashing.
Got home pulled codes with AE and only got P1747 Solenoid A short circuit.
Cleared the code checked everything again. And started her up and about 30sec in the OD Light starts flashing.
Shut her down and AE found only P1747 of any concern again. I've cleared and done this couple more times and only get P1747.
I've got a Pig tail for the Tranny Connector on the way and will first change that out. Also have a Solenoid Pack on the way.
Anything you fellas can advise.

Cheers and Beers,
Reg

 

You have already taken the first steps I would have taken given the situation. Let us know how it goes after you have replaced the pigtail and solenoid pack.

 

I would electrically check the wire from the PCM to SSA. To get a code for both an open and a short circuit almost certainly takes a broken wire that is making contact outside of it's insulation, I don't think it is very likely to be a bad solenoid, though it is not impossible.

 

G'day Mark,
So good to have you chime in on this issue, much appreciated.
Excuse my ignorance on 3 letter words. But what is the SSA (presume it is the gear box connector to the Solenoid Pack?) and what colour wire is that?

I also omitted to mention that for some time now I've had issues getting Cruise Control (CC) to work. It would only engage like once in 3 or 4 attempts.
It would at times engage and then after hitting the brakes to slow down it would not Resume.
The day all the transmission issues started it drove perfectly to my destination. I tried about 3 or 4 times to engage the CC without success and truck running perfectly.
Spent around 4 hours at my destination. Truck starts without issue and a few minutes on the road I try to engage CC but without success. I tried again and pretty well straight away the harsh shifting and other mentioned transmission issues started. Could be coincidental or could it be related? As mentioned I had only once the P0500 and I've change out the VSS and checked the connection on the Master Cylinder.

I'm isolated from any Powerstroke help here so will heavily rely on FTE and your expertise.
Reg.

 

Is it just me, or do others read Reg's posts while speaking with an Australian accent?

 

Sorry, had to.

"SSA" is Shift Solenoid "A". It an SSB (Shift Solenoid "B") work in on/off pairs to control all of the shifts.

 

When was the last time you changed the Cam Positioning Sensor. The last time mine went out years ago,,,,,,, I thought the transmission jumped out of the truck. Intermittent problems that show up after the vehicle reaches higher running temps always points me toward electrical components. May not be CPS, but it does sound electrical. Keep us posted.

 

It’s not just you! I hear an Aussie in my head too!!!🤣

 

G'day Cleatus good ta hear from ya again.
You have pointed me in the right direction in the dim dark past. Mainly over the PHP Chip if I remember correctly.

So I was close to knowing the 3 letter acronym. Cheers for that.
Needs a full list of acronyms in a sticky?

Looking at the drawing of the connector it shows a Shift Solenoid 1.
I can take it that that is Shift Solenoid 'A' and has a Orange/Yellow (OG/YE) wire?

Cheers & Beers,
Reg

 

G'day Brian,
There's a lot of that around here mate.
Just hope it isn't nauseating.

Reg

 

G'day I'm back,
Well I just decided to move the truck into my shed/workshop at home to start tracing wires.
Before I did I put AE over her and pulled codes.
I understand that the GEM is not related but just so as everything is noted here they are:
GEM:
B1428 Lamp Seat Belt Circuit Failure (I cancelled the chime on this years ago)
B1352 Ignition Key-In circuit failure-Intr Clstr
B1359 Ignition Key- RUN/ACC Circ Failure - 4WD Mod
Enhanced Powertrain:
P1747 Solenoid A short Circuit
P0541 Intake Air Circuit Low - (Vehicle Speed Idle Control and Auxilary Inputs)

It is strange that a code for the AIH would come up because I deleted the AIH and take Boost from there and I've had the Riff Raff code delete wired in for years??
Or is the code delete only for P0540 Manf Intake Air Heater Circuit )

I cleared the codes and she started up on issues. 30 sec later OD light flashing.
Reversed back a little and selected Drive and headed up a slight 15 metre incline toward the shed/workshop.
She would not barely respond to pedal.
Push down on pedal and barely no rev response and truck just creeping forward. Selected 2nd with same response, Selected 1st with same response.
Shut her down for a couple of minutes. Started up and selected Drive and she responded ever so slightly better and I coached her painfully creeping into the shed.
It felt as though the tranny was slipping and no clutch engagement
I was really packing it and thought I wouldn't even get her into the shed.
I've let her sit a awhile and will now go and put AE over her.

Ok the only codes to come up this time is:
GEM:
B1428
Enhanced Powertrain:
P1747
That is it no others at all.

Changed CPS last December with a OE Sensor from Clay.

Cheers & Beers,
Reg

 

Is your fuel bowl heater plugged in? Mine would cause bucks and stalls without blowing the fuse and give the KAM error code

 

I think the P0541 is related to the air intake temperature sensor that is on the side of the airbox. Go through the steps Mark outlined for the slipping transmission. The error on Solenoid A probably means the clutch packs in your transmission are not hooking up like they are supposed to. What was the TFT as you nursed the truck up the incline? Was it climbing rapidly?

Have you had problems with mice chewing on the truck's wiring?

 

The code for shift solenoid A (SSA) means there is an electrical problem. It has nothing to do with the clutches.

 

You mean the clutch packs should still engage properly if the solenoids are not sending the correct pressure to them?