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1994.5 - 1997 7.3L Power Stroke Diesel  

Weird shifting/electrical

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Old Feb 1, 2022 | 09:45 PM
  #1  
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From: Commiefornia
Weird shifting/electrical

Hey everyone,
I got a 1996 7.3 PSD with the E4OD.
I got a couple issues that I am stumped on:
My truck's left turn signal will either stay solid or when it does blink it makes my radio lights blink as well.
My parking brake light will come on when I use the brake pedal and when it is idling.
Anytime I get up to 55+ mph my truck seems to not want to stay in one gear sometimes. I'll just be cruising, then my truck downshifts. Then it'll only upshift when I give it a quarter to half throttle. It sounds dumb, but I can tell it's not normal.
When I apply the brake pedal, my instrument cluster lights come on as well as my running lights.

I don't know if these things would affect the problems above but:
I got a very slight axle seal leak (leaks a few drops every week)
I did the GM tow mirror conversion, but not all the lights are working right.
Very slight leak between the transmission and engine.

I hate dealing with electrical issues on my truck but if there's any insight on what I could do to save myself some money, it would be much appreciated.

Thank you all!




 
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Old Feb 2, 2022 | 09:12 AM
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From: evansville in
I would start with checking all brake light bulbs for correct function.
Do you have a tune or chip in it?
Are the mirrors wired in at all light wise?

The brake light on with pedal could be fluid level or a loss of vacuum from faulty booster or underperformed vacuum pump.
 
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Old Feb 2, 2022 | 01:00 PM
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A guess to one problem is regarding your "upshift" under acceleration. That's your torque converter clutch applying because the PCM thinks your brakes are applied (brake light circuit). Most of the other issues sound like a short between a tailllight circuit and brake light at the rear of the vehicle. Turning on a turn signal and having dash lights come on or get dim when already on.......the brown parking light circuit and instrument illumination (black/light blue tracer) are connected through the light switch.

 
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Old Feb 2, 2022 | 01:06 PM
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cleatus12r
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From: Reed Point, MT
Might be some botched trailer wiring too. These trucks don't have much for a separated system like the newer ones and trailer wiring is NEVER full of scotch locks, butt connectors, and frayed wiring. 🙄
 
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Old Feb 3, 2022 | 04:48 PM
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Hyperhad
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From: Commiefornia
Yeah I already checked all those, they are working as intended.
I do have Dashpaq+ in it but I have only used it for gauges.
The mirrors are sort of wired; I have had problems with some of the lights not working but they were sent to me that way. When I first tested it they were not working at all when I did wire them correctly and checked for power in the appropriate wires.

I might have to disagree with you on the brake pedal though, because it has been doing that ever since I got the truck almost a year ago. So I'm thinking that is another electrical thing? Or am I wrong?
 
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Old Feb 3, 2022 | 04:50 PM
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From: Commiefornia
Yeah my trailer hitch plug was a mess so I tore it out because it wasn't working with my headache rack...

You wouldn't happen to know a trailer hitch plug assembly that works with a Magnum Pro headache rack?
 
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Old Feb 3, 2022 | 04:51 PM
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So for that upshift I would want to possibly look at my brake light circuit being replaced?
 
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