Hello,

I have an 1996 F250 Automatic with a 7.3L power stroke.
This truck hasn't been a daily drivers in years. I am the second owner and my dad was the original owner. The trans was rebuilt around 150K and the truck probably has 250K now.

When the truck shifts from 2nd to 3rd it will shift really hard. The RPMs go high and then when it does shift it feels like someone is punching you in the back. It doesn't always shift this way and when it does, I used to stop and put the truck in park and then back into drive and it would shift fine. Sometimes turning the truck off and back on again fixed the issues as well. Now it's becoming hard to get the truck to stop shifting this way using those methods I mentioned above.

I found a TBS https://www.tsbsearch.com/Ford/97-6-29
Looks like there is a new Calibration on the PCM for this issue.

Can this calibration be done with ForScan? I think I read that ForScan can't flash the PCM. Is a Calibration the same as a flash? Can Forscan see what the current Calibration on the PCM is? This may have already been done on the truck.

I have used Forscan on my new truck when I added a factory break controller and I had to enable it.

 

I used ForScan and there was a code, P0500 which points to the VSS. I also have seen on some other post that the PSOM goes bad. This truck has had an issue for years where the needle on the speed odometer wouldn't move and if you knock on the dash it will start working. I wondering if I need to fine a PSOM.

 

"Fixed" with knock on the dash sounds like a bad connection at the instrument, or maybe a bad ground.

My volt gage has a similar issue, but no effect on running, so I haven't torn the dash apart.

 

My left dash light has a mind of its own, sometimes a hit makes it work, usually comes on when am almost home.