Hay guys...
My 97 2 WD dually went into limp mode yesterday. It was shifting a little funny - then the OD light began blinking. It shifts hard - but good through the gears as I limped home.
I have an edge towing programed into the PCM.
I noticed that PO had installed an in line filter on the trans coolant line...
The fluid looks and smells a slight bit burnt -
I'm going to remove the in line filter (might be the problem) - and change the internal filter and fluid.
I changed the VSS just in case - but my speedo was working right...
I don't have a scanner.
It has a new TRS / NSS

If that in line filter is restricting flow - would that cause limp mode? - or what else could I be looking at as the problem?

 

Hey man! im not the most qualified of people on the forum but thought id pitch in because mine had a similar issue a few months ago, id suggest scanning it since its never a bad idea, since you don't own one i think you can rent one for free at any auto parts store, or if you can make it try driving it to the store and scan it there. My problem was that the tuner i put on it didn't adjust shift timing so the pressure would spike super high in the lines and one of em ended up blowing out, but before that the top end speed was horrible which was unusual since it was great if i had it in stock mode, and the trans temp would get up pretty hot most of the time. then about 2 days before the line blew it went into limp mode and on my journey to drive it home the line blew out.

It could be something as simple as a fuse since you already changed the VSS which is a pretty common issue from what i know, maybe its the vss sensor? try pulling and cleaning it, its in the rear pumpkin connected by a screw, remove screw, remove connector and pull the sensor out and check it. is there any specific pattern to OD blinking? The funny shifting makes me feel like it might be something bigger and honestly if you have the money id go to a transmission shop and have them look at it, every case is different and you don't wanna sink money into stuff that isnt the issue.

Keep us posted on the filter progress!

 

Neither of those will give you any useful codes. The scanners that you can get there CANNOT read these codes.

You can download Forscan at forscan.org for free. You can buy an ELM327 adapter on Amazon for under $30. This will get you all of the codes.

[QUOTE=StalinsBitch;18938322]It could be something as simple as a fuse since you already changed the VSS which is a pretty common issue from what i know, maybe its the vss sensor?
So he just change the vss and you think he should look at the vss as the cause? Didn't he just change that?
The light only is capable of blinking on/off at 1 hertz. It cannot blink out codes, if that's what you were implying.
When these trucks set transmission codes the failure mode is to set pressures high. That causes the funny shifting. It still may be something major, or it may be something very, very minor. You need the codes that have been stored to tell which one.

Back to the original post:

No, the filter cannot cause the problem.

Do you want to know what the problem is? I don't know. If I knew what codes were stored in the PCM's memory I could tell you how to go about this. Without the codes, my best advice is that I'll give you a list of everything that it could possibly be and you'll start changing parts until you run out of money.

You can get Forscan for free from www.forscan.org. You can buy an ELM327 for under $30 on Amazon, among other places. I think that's a far cheaper way to fix this than to try and fix it without the codes.

 

At the advance auto near where im at they let you rent transmission scanners for free, as long as you bring it back. i know a standard obd2 scanner wouldn't read exact codes but ive had multiple problems on my old truck and would commonly rent trans scanners from there. in my experience they showed every code the trans had. Not 100% sure though and i see you used to be a transmission specialist so id assume you know your stuff. i haven't had any issues with my e4od yet so i wouldn't know. Like i said im not the most qualified and im just giving some the best suggestions i can.

And the blinking light i was wondering if the light blinking was long delay blinks or short blinks or something along that line. I'm gonna send an email to my uncle (owns a transmission shop) and wanted to know if a blinking pattern might clue into something.

 

You have an unusually good store near you. The stores I've visited could not read any transmission codes.

The blinking pattern is always the same. It only has one pattern that it is able to blink.

 

I have ordered the ELM327 scanner.

I removed and bypassed the inline filter - started the truck - still had flashing OD. I put the truck in drive and it's ok -but when I put it in reverse it died.

I talked to my local diesel mechanic and he said he remembered a bulletin years ago from ford that if the E4OD dies when putting it in reverse that the pan filter and fluid needed to be changed.

I changed the pan filter and fluid - and now the OD is not blinking - and it seems to be working right - forward and reverse.
I'm taking it to the mechanic later today for a scan.

 

Just got it scanned. No codes. It drives and shifts like usual.
The mechanic said he remembered back in the day - these trucks and vans coming in to his shop with OD flashing - hard (limp mode shifting) and they would die when put in reverse.
He said they changed the filter & fluid and that was all that needed to be done...???
I guess I'll know after a couple of trips next week...

 

BTW - when I pulled the pan off the transmission - the filter fell down into the pan without me touching it -
That may have played a significant role in my issues????

 

yes, significant role. Look up in the mounting hole for the filter and see if the gasket-O ring thing is still in there from the last filter change. If it is this will not allow the new filter to fit in there properly and will fall out.

 

I checked it and there was not one in there - (and the filter that fell out had it's o-ring was in tact) -
I don't know why it came out so easily.
The new one "snapped" in like it should.

 

This happened to my truck two weeks ago. My voltage regulator on the alternator went bad. I replaced it and the limp mode problem, and flashing OD light went away and have not been back. FWIW

 

Took it on a 200 mile trip Monday.
Pulled and shifted good - but I noticed that when in 3rd and pushing a little hard (slight incline / etc.) - the shift into OD has a longer "pause" before actually shifting than I remember. But when in 3rd and just regular acceleration the shift is quick as I remember.
I need to change the fluid again. The darker fluid trapped in the TC and other parts has lightly darkened the almost 8 quarts I changed.
I know the entire system takes somewhere around 16 quarts. I changed 8.
I'll do it asap.