Flashing o/d light
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From: Wisconsin
Flashing o/d light
I have a 2001 Ranger extended cab 4wd with a 3.0 engine and automatic o/d transmission. When the weather is cold (or at least this is where I've notice the problem) the transmission doesn't always want to shift from 1st to second very cleanly. Seems to hang on longer than should be nessecary to get a shift. Once in awhile the o/d light will start flashing when this happens. The only way to stop the flashing is restarting the vehicle.
Owners manual says have tranny checked out. I took it to a tranny specialist in town who put his code reader on the truck and told me there were no stored codes available. Tranny fluid seems to be fine, that is, not burnt or discolored. Is this a common problem for Rangers? The vehicle only has 39,000 miles on it; just in time to have no warrenty left! Please give me any suggestions you may have. Thanks in advance!
Owners manual says have tranny checked out. I took it to a tranny specialist in town who put his code reader on the truck and told me there were no stored codes available. Tranny fluid seems to be fine, that is, not burnt or discolored. Is this a common problem for Rangers? The vehicle only has 39,000 miles on it; just in time to have no warrenty left! Please give me any suggestions you may have. Thanks in advance!
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
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From: South Jersey
Welcome to FTE!!!
When the light flashes it produces a 2 digit code, post it and I can tell you what it means. The most common cause of the OD light is a bad vehicle speed senser which is cheap and easy to replace.
When the light flashes it produces a 2 digit code, post it and I can tell you what it means. The most common cause of the OD light is a bad vehicle speed senser which is cheap and easy to replace.
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Thanks for the reply Ken00! I'm not familiar with where the vehicle speed sensor is. Is there a website where I can see a picture or description of this sensor?
Ken00, once it gets through it's initial shifts (1st,2nd,3rd) it seems to work fine. But the initial shift from 1st to 2nd hangs on longer than one would expect and sometimes there is a sense of surging like the tranny doesn't quite know what gear to be in or how fast the engine is turning. I'm sorry this isn't a better explanation. It's sometimes hard to describe to others problems like these.
I had the codes looked at a nothing showed up in error. Is there a certain amount of time that has to pass before it registers a code or do they get erased after a certain amount of time or start-ups. Thanks for the advice.
Ken00, once it gets through it's initial shifts (1st,2nd,3rd) it seems to work fine. But the initial shift from 1st to 2nd hangs on longer than one would expect and sometimes there is a sense of surging like the tranny doesn't quite know what gear to be in or how fast the engine is turning. I'm sorry this isn't a better explanation. It's sometimes hard to describe to others problems like these.
I had the codes looked at a nothing showed up in error. Is there a certain amount of time that has to pass before it registers a code or do they get erased after a certain amount of time or start-ups. Thanks for the advice.
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From: Grand Rapids,MI
I just picked up my 2001 3.0 4X4 from the Ford dealer today for the same problem. On startup trouble shifting from 1st to 2nd. o/d light flashing . Shut off, restart and would go away. I always thought it was a lazy shift from 1st to 2nd at about 3000 rpm. Anyways, I crossed my fingers and hoped it was a sticky shift solinoid or something electronic. Not so lucky, it got worse and I finally brought it in. When they dropped the valve body, metal shavings and small bearings dropped out. They explained the thrush washer was torn up and caused the problem.The replaced some parts and put it back together and the little driving I did today it works great like a transmission should. Shifts at about 2500 rpms under normal acceleration. Bottom line is it could be a number of things, and might be something simple,however you need a good transmission tech.! From all the message board posts and I have read I think this 5 speed auto is a little problematic.
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i had the o/d light just start blinking and don't know what to do .. i just replaced the tranny... the tranny i put in is used w/ 32,000 mi. god i hope i don't have to change that again .. took a long time to do that.. where is the speed sensor locaded? anyone know?
Post Fiend
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From: South Jersey
I don't have a picture of the VSS but it's located on the top of the rear, one bolt and an electrical connector. I'm not sure if the OD light flashing will always set a code in the computer but the flashes are a 2 digit numeric code, it repeats it a few times.
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I had the codes checked by a tranny tech here in town. He said nothing showed up on anything. This light problem is intermittant, only does it once in a while but particularly when it's fairly cold outside (10 degrees or less). This past week it only came on once (it's been in the 20's this week). If I push it alittle on first takeoff I can get it to light up but if I take it easy at first takeoff it doesn't come on. I think I'll have the pan dropped and check for parts, replace all the fluid with mercon 5, and replace the filter. Does that sound like a good place to start? I'll also have him check the speed sensor if he can. If it comes on again I'll try to count flashes and see if there is a pattern. Thanks for any advice.
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I have been having transmission related problems on my 1999 ford ranger automatic 3.0l v6 72,000 + change.
10 days ago it was recommended that the valve body was replaced ($500 PART) and replace the servo pistons. When they got in it they found the valve body was fine and replaced the servo pistons.
Then my o/d off light kept flashing and the truck would not drive out of 1st or 2nd gear.
They ran the codes: PO731.32.33.34 and P1761
They replaced the PCM. Picked it up yesterday.
Truck seems to be working the transmission hard, again like I was driving too fast in 2nd gear.
And today, the o/d off light began flashing again.
Any advice?
10 days ago it was recommended that the valve body was replaced ($500 PART) and replace the servo pistons. When they got in it they found the valve body was fine and replaced the servo pistons.
Then my o/d off light kept flashing and the truck would not drive out of 1st or 2nd gear.
They ran the codes: PO731.32.33.34 and P1761
They replaced the PCM. Picked it up yesterday.
Truck seems to be working the transmission hard, again like I was driving too fast in 2nd gear.
And today, the o/d off light began flashing again.
Any advice?
Post Fiend
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 10,562
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From: South Jersey
Welcome to FTE!!!
Replacing the PCM is one of the possible causes but if you still not happy I would take it back and have the rerun the tranny pinpoint test A. There are other possible causes of those codes. Does the OD light flash a 2 digit code?
Replacing the PCM is one of the possible causes but if you still not happy I would take it back and have the rerun the tranny pinpoint test A. There are other possible causes of those codes. Does the OD light flash a 2 digit code?
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