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Overdrive off when raining

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Old Nov 8, 2023 | 09:04 PM
  #1  
AttiWeed's Avatar
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Overdrive off when raining

As the title says, my overdrive turns off when it begins to rain. More specifically heavy or really windy rain. If it's just a light rain there's no issues. It can vary between constantly being off and flipping on and off. This past weekend I took the plug out of the PCM and cleaned the connections and put dielectric on the connector to help water proof the PCM. This apparently didn't fix the issue. I tried to open the fuse box to check if it got wet but nothing wad wet. I did notice that the PCM relay was hot though. That tells me there's still a short somewhere but I don't know where to start looking.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 05:33 AM
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I would start with the plug going into the transmission and work my way back to the engine compartment from there. Chances are the water is getting in near the trans, it shouldn’t really be wet up under the hood by the fuse box.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 07:21 AM
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Are you sure it's coming out of 4th and going to 3rd and not just staying in 4th but releasing the torque converter clutch?

The screnario above can be a very simple brake light ground issue or as stupid as dirt buildup in the trailer connector becoming electrically conductive and shorting power between a couple pins and the trailer brake wire backfeeding through the brake controller.

If thr transmission is actually downshifting to 3rd, it will be something else entirely.

 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 07:47 AM
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^ what Cleatus said, check the trailer connector.

Had the same issue with my 95. Somehow the connector got bent downwards and when I washed my truck the connector filled up with water causing the TC to release at random times. Maybe yours is doing the same thing.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 08:35 AM
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Originally Posted by AttiWeed
As the title says, my overdrive turns off when it begins to rain.
Do you mean the OD OFF light turns on, or the transmission downshifts?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
Do you mean the OD OFF light turns on, or the transmission downshifts?
The OD off light fully comes on and I loose 4th gear.

Originally Posted by cleatus12r
Are you sure it's coming out of 4th and going to 3rd and not just staying in 4th but releasing the torque converter clutch?

The screnario above can be a very simple brake light ground issue or as stupid as dirt buildup in the trailer connector becoming electrically conductive and shorting power between a couple pins and the trailer brake wire backfeeding through the brake controller.

If thr transmission is actually downshifting to 3rd, it will be something else entirely.
I do have the issue with the torque converter unlocking on me when I use my left turn signal and was assuming that I have a bad ground. As stated above the OD off light comes on and i completely loose 4th gear because of that. I was already planning on fixing the bad ground this weekend but I'm fairly certain this is a separate issue.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 06:00 PM
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Originally Posted by 1994F2507.3L
I would start with the plug going into the transmission and work my way back to the engine compartment from there. Chances are the water is getting in near the trans, it shouldn’t really be wet up under the hood by the fuse box.
Where is the plug located on the transmission?
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 06:02 PM
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Originally Posted by z31freakify
^ what Cleatus said, check the trailer connector.

Had the same issue with my 95. Somehow the connector got bent downwards and when I washed my truck the connector filled up with water causing the TC to release at random times. Maybe yours is doing the same thing.
I'm not 100% sure what TC means (I assume traction control but I don't think mine has that) but I'll still check out the plug next time it rains and see if it's filled.
 
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Old Nov 9, 2023 | 06:21 PM
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Originally Posted by AttiWeed
Where is the plug located on the transmission?
It is on the passenger's side of the trans. It is NOT the cause of losing fourth gear.

The wires that can turn on the OD OFF light and cause it to lose fourth gear are not in that connector. They are in the shifter handle and the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) connector. Somewhere between the PCM and the shifter you have a wire that is getting water into it and causing a short. It's probably not in the shifter handle unless the interior is getting drenched when it rains.

Originally Posted by AttiWeed
I'm not 100% sure what TC means (I assume traction control but I don't think mine has that) but I'll still check out the plug next time it rains and see if it's filled.
TC can mean traction control, transfer case, turbo charger, or in this case, torque converter.
 
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Old Nov 10, 2023 | 03:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Mark Kovalsky
It is on the passenger's side of the trans. It is NOT the cause of losing fourth gear.

The wires that can turn on the OD OFF light and cause it to lose fourth gear are not in that connector. They are in the shifter handle and the PCM (Powertrain Control Module) connector. Somewhere between the PCM and the shifter you have a wire that is getting water into it and causing a short. It's probably not in the shifter handle unless the interior is getting drenched when it rains.


TC can mean traction control, transfer case, turbo charger, or in this case, torque converter.
Does anyone anyone know where I can get a diag of the pcm so I can see what wires to chase down?
 
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Old Nov 12, 2023 | 01:55 PM
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In the meantime, you could scrounge around in the cab under the steering column to drivers side to see if you see any moisture/water anywhere.

I do not know if a leaking hydroboost unit would be able to leak on anything related...oops, I forgot what section I'm in. Not even sure if you have hydroboost
 
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