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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 02:15 PM
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anthonyargirof250
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E40D issues

I have a 1997 f250 7.3PS e40d 4x4. I have lost overdrive while driving highways speeds and significantly harder shifts in the remaining 3 gears almost as if line pressure was raised. At the same time this has happened I can hear a distinct whining noise coming from specifically the bell housing/torque converter area that becomes louder as rpms go up. also od/off light flashing. I am wondering if these transmissions have a limp mode and if the fault is in the torque converter and that is what has caused the loss of overdrive and higher line pressure feel? looking for diagnostic help and where to start. thanks.
 
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Old Apr 26, 2026 | 06:50 PM
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The torque converter can't affect overdrive.

The ONLY way to fix this is to read the codes. Then we can help direct you to the problem. Anything else is just guessing, and will waste a lot of time and money.
 
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Old Apr 27, 2026 | 09:46 AM
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The transmission pressure is raised through programming because there is a fault detected that the PCM has deemed it necessary to do so.


 
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 06:36 PM
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I was finally able to retrieve a code from the truck and it is a P1728 code. Hope i can get some insight on what that may be. thanks
 
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 07:14 PM
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After finding that code I decided to clear it and try and reproduce the issue. I started driving it with codes cleared and it felt like it was back to normal again. no hard shifts, almost as if a "limp mode" was removed. everything seemed normal until it would shift into 3rd gear and i could feel it trying to engage converter lockup and it kept slipping and wouldn't lock. any thoughts?
 
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 08:02 PM
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Clearing the code does remove the FMEM (Failure Mode Effects Management) aka, limp mode.

You most likely have a failure in the torque converter lockup system. Since you don't have an electrical code, we can rule out the PCM, wiring, and the solenoid. It could be a bad seal on the input shaft, a bad converter, or a stuck converter clutch control valve. The trans needs to come out to check each of these.
 
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 10:26 PM
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okay thank you. Are you saying that the p1728 code is not an electrical code? what does this code mean? on the scan tool I was using it just said something along the lines of "transmission slippage" and nothing to do with torque converter.
thanks
 
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Old Apr 28, 2026 | 10:45 PM
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I forgot to mention that after I cleared the codes, the whining noise coming from the torque converter/bell housing area had went away. That confused me a bit.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2026 | 12:05 PM
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Originally Posted by anthonyargirof250
okay thank you. Are you saying that the p1728 code is not an electrical code? what does this code mean? on the scan tool I was using it just said something along the lines of "transmission slippage" and nothing to do with torque converter.
thanks
This code can only set when the trans is in fourth gear, and the torque converter clutch is commanded on. The code sets when the measured slip across the transmission is above 50 (I think that's the right number) RPM for about 3 seconds. It can be caused by slip in the torque converter clutch, a converter clutch that didn't apply when it was commanded, or slip inside the transmission. The E4OD does not have enough speed sensors to be able to differentiate converter slip from transmission slip.

Originally Posted by anthonyargirof250
I forgot to mention that after I cleared the codes, the whining noise coming from the torque converter/bell housing area had went away. That confused me a bit.
The noise is from the pump. When certain codes are set, and P1728 is one of them, the transmission defaults to high line pressure. That can cause noise from the pump.
 
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Old Apr 29, 2026 | 07:17 PM
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Thank you for that information. knowing all of this, when I go to put everything back together are there any upgrades or improvements I should be making to the transmission specifically on the torque converter circuit side of things to keep this from happening again? maybe increasing line pressure? Also, say I wanted to replace the factory torque converter with a triple disc converter, does this require any tuning or other upgrades?
 
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Old Apr 30, 2026 | 09:11 AM
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triple disc is just the TC clutch like plates inside and OEM uses a single that can only hold maybe 300 HP according to interwebs

The stall speed on OEM is a bit high which creates more heat and the cooling system is oversized for this, the lower stall ones apply power at lower RPMs and reduce heat

There are seals, bearing and pump circuit mods that can be done.
 
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Old Apr 30, 2026 | 09:26 AM
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Originally Posted by anthonyargirof250
Thank you for that information. knowing all of this, when I go to put everything back together are there any upgrades or improvements I should be making to the transmission specifically on the torque converter circuit side of things to keep this from happening again? maybe increasing line pressure? Also, say I wanted to replace the factory torque converter with a triple disc converter, does this require any tuning or other upgrades?

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