Long time lurker, I always use this site as research whenever I have something go wrong on the old beast.

2000 F-150 XLT 4.6 with the 4R70W

My wife and I went camping just over a month ago. Heavily pitted forest road leading up to the site, about 15 miles up. Unloaded and had a great evening. Packed back up in the morning and truck wouldn't start. Tried my jump pack, nothing. No crank, no fuel pump, just nothing. Figured maybe a fuse or relay wiggled loose, and sure enough I pushed them in and it fired right up. Down to the fishing spot and back up the mountain, same thing happens the next day. Push the fuses and relays in, and fired right up.

Now for the Transmission light: drove home, and when I got into town I noticed the O/D light flashing. Had my buddy hook up his computer to it and checked out the codes. A few odd ones such as B1450 for wiper selection switch fault, and B1318 for battery voltage low. I figured the battery voltage was a stored code from the camping no start. Also had B0500 for the vehicle speed sensor being low voltage, and P0783 for 3-4 shift fault. After searching most common issue is either the VSS is causing the 3-4 shift malfunction, or the shift solenoid. Decided to throw a new VSS on in hopes of not having to tear off the transmission pan and replace the solenoid. No dice, starts flashing after reconnecting the battery and driving a couple days. Checked out wiring from the PCM to the sensors, everything checked out fine. After some research, and beer, I noticed the battery was leaking from the vent cap. My mind went back to the battery voltage code, and checked it out. The battery just had its 6th birthday, and had sat flat for 3 of those years. Passed the voltage test, and CCA test but I checked the cells, and sure enough ones completely dead. Replaced the battery, and put on new terminals as they were corroded at the cable. A month and 1,000 miles later, no more O/D light flashing!!

I've heard the PCM and different computers/sensors on these 10th gens are very sensitive to voltage, but crazy am I crazy for thinking the battery fixed the issues?

 

If you have gone a month and 1000 miles...you can declare victory ! Could have been the battery