Howdy, I am new to the list so don't know if this has been asked before. I have a 94 Motorhome running a Ford Chassis setup. The overdrive light has gone out and I cannot for the life of me see how to change it. Any ideas?

 

The end-cap pops off and you can grab the switch/led unit with thin needle nose pliers and pull it straight out. Usually the light doesn't go out though, you might have broken wires in the shifter stalk or where the stalk meets the shifting mechanism under the top steering column housing. I just did one 3 weeks ago and its fairly easy to fix. You can buy a new switch (if that's what's wrong) for $24.99 from Ford and /or fix the wires yourself with new wires and heat-shrink tubing. BTW, the lock cylinder comes out by turning the key to the "run" position and using a brad owl to disconnect it from the column. The disconnect "button" is on the underside of the steering column directly under the lock cylinder. You can drive the retaining pin on the shifter stalk out and take the whole stalk out for easy repair. Easy, 45 minute job.


ps. I did this on a 1997 F150, so your 1994 may be a little different but not by much. I also had a 1994 and the main diffence I have noticed it the location of the indicator needle alignment thumbwheel/screw. It's under the dash near the steering shaft on the 1997's and newer and in the ignition steering column covers on the 92-96.

 

Also, you can buy a whole new shifter assembly with the wiring harness and switch/light if you don't want to mess with repairing the old one. I don't know how much it costs, though.

 

So, I take it that I remove the lock and pull the whole shebang out to fix the wires? Or is there a way to locate the wires on the column via a service panel of some sorts.

Thanks BTw, appreciate it.

 

Yes, first you need to take out the lock cylinder. Then you're going to take off the covers that go around the steering wheel column. There are 4 screws on the lower cover that hold both covers on and together. Then you can remove the rubber boot that prevents stuff from getting into the column, that just slides off. Then you unplug the trasmission OD cancel wire harness. There is a 1/2" wide pin that goes from top to bottom that holds the shifter stalk into the shifter block. With a punch or a screwdriver, you can hammer it out easily. The stalk just pops/slides out. You'll probably notice frayed wires where the wiring exits the shifter stalk and is routed over the block that holds it. All I did was replace that section by splicing and soldering new wire and putting heat shrink tubing around each wire and then 2 more layers of heat shrink tubing around the whole thing. I have to do another one next week, on a 1998 this time. Note that you are not supposed to reuse the pin that holds the shifter, but it works anyways provided you are carful enough when you drive it out initialy. This is also a good time to replace the ripped rubber boot around the stalk. All in all, a really easy repair.

 

Kewl. I will be giving this a try this weekend. Thanks and have a great holiday, geez, New Year. The holidays are almost over.

 

One question though, when you press the button, does the Overdrive cut out or is there no change? If the button doesn't do anything then you have bad wires. If it still works then you only need to change the switch/light assembly.

 

Aww, good question. Only the light does not work. The od still works on and off

 

Great, so you don't need to open the covers. That will save you some time. Like I said, the end cap on the shifter pops off. Just pry it off with a thin flatblade screwdriver. Then you can extract the switch/light assembly with needlenose pliers. It is a module with 3 prongs that plugs right in. The switch is 24.99 at the dealer. Nothing simpler.

The 97 (and the 98) F150 was stuck in Overdrive OFF position, so the wiring had to be repaired.

 

Perfect.

Thanks again.

 

Pretty darn kewl Marc. Thanks a lot. I had not idea how Ford did that little light.

Thanks again.

 

So I take it the switch/light module replacement worked for you?

 

Well, we will see. I ran a continuity check and the lite has none. So, we will buy another and see.

 

Yep, that was it. Thanks again
SF (oh, and it was $13)