Ok, this is the only way I can make you visualize the problem. The truck shifts great but kinda skips third.

1111111111...2222222222...33...4444444444...OD

If give it more gas, it will stay in third longer but otherwise, it holds in third for about a second and then drops to fourth. Any ideas?

 

Sounds kind of normal to me. When you keep it in overdrive it just seems to do that. If you want more life out of your tranny keep it in third around town. It is hard on the overdrives if they keep shifting in too early. Can burn em up. Just my experience.

 

But I can't keep it in third without pressing on the gas more. I don't see how it could have anything to do with OD because there is 4th and then OD.

 

actually 4th is the OD, just press the little OD button on the shifter, and viola you lock out 4th.

 

Would a valve body replacement or shift kit help this problem? As bad as it sounds, I don't want to have to keep worrying about pressing the cancel switch every time I drive.

 

same problem............when I push the overdrive button the off flashes?

 

I have had many encounters with my E4OD and 4 is not the same as OD. The tranny is a electronic 4 speed with OD. A totally different set of gears than 4th. I will be honest with you and say that I have never had anything but trouble with these things. I have had to have mine rebuilt twice because I won't touch the thing. I tried that once and will never do it again. Whenever mine started acting up I would throw a quart of Lucas transmission fluid in it and that seemed to cure whatever the problem was. I would try that. I don't know if you have an O'reilly's in your area but they carry it and I think that NAPA does as well. Good Luck!

KJ

 

I agree that the E4OD is pretty much nothing but trouble, although I can say that mine has been on fire only once which is less than the other fords I have owned. If you look up gear ratios on the E4OD, though, you will find:

1st = 2.71
2nd = 1.54
3rd = 1.00
4th OD = .71
Reverse = 2.18

So it appears that 4th gear IS overdrive. Also, don't forget that this tranny has a lock-up torque convertor, so this may add to the confusion as the TC locks up, you drop some RPM and it may *seem* as though another gear has engaged.

Although I'm no expert by far, I think there is a way you can recall codes from the tranny or maybe they come from the ECU, but can indicate trouble with the tranny. Either way, the tranny will only do what the computer tells it to. If your TPS or speed sensors are giving troubles, the tranny will just obey the wrong commands

 

I agree that the E4OD is pretty much nothing but trouble, although I can say that mine has been on fire only once which is less than the other fords I have owned. If you look up gear ratios on the E4OD, though, you will find:

1st = 2.71
2nd = 1.54
3rd = 1.00
4th OD = .71
Reverse = 2.18

So it appears that 4th gear IS overdrive. Also, don't forget that this tranny has a lock-up torque convertor, so this may add to the confusion as the TC locks up, you drop some RPM and it may *seem* as though another gear has engaged.

Although I'm no expert by far, I think there is a way you can recall codes from the tranny or maybe they come from the ECU, but can indicate trouble with the tranny. Either way, the tranny will only do what the computer tells it to. If your TPS or speed sensors are giving troubles, the tranny will just obey the wrong commands

 

I think I'm gonna give my TPS a check sometime soon. I've a got a couple of problems that may be related to it.

 

YTa, I was pretty sure that an E4OD was only a four speed but I did not want to make a fuss about it until someone else said something. A lock up torque converter does seem like it has changed into another gear so I can see why that is confusing.

 

the e4od is an electronically controlled 4 speed transmission. it also has a locking torque converter which is what i think is confusing you int thinking that it has five gears. my 91 shifts 1st to 2cnd then to third , then my torque converter locks up then i get 4th gear. your torque converter can lockmin any gear but usually does not until third. are you new to the truck? if so you will get used to the way it shifts. your computer is sent signals from the tps and from the mlps which it makes its decision to shift from. usually it is rule of thumb with many ford techs that when you are having shifting problems with an e4od that you should replace the mlps and 9 out of ten times it will fix your problem.

if your od light is flashing that means there are codes saved from the transmission. read the codes and see what they say.
i think your trans is shifting properly but it would not hurt to check the codes. the e4od is the smoothest shifting trans i have ever owned. a lot of people say the trans is trash but i have never had a problem with mine and it has 120000 miles on it.
if you service it and dont beat the heck out of it it will not let you down.
it is not a kids transmission because it has its weak points but it is not trash.

 

Hell my stock tranny lasted 196,000 miles.

 

MPLS? Help me out here.

I have a SunPro Ford Code Scanner. However, I have no CEL or OD light flashing. Should I still try and see if there's codes?

 

mlps is the manuel lever position sensor, or the nuetrol safty switch. the nuetrtol safety switch on an e4od also tells the computer what gear it is supposed to be in. to replace with the updated switch or sensor you may have to change the wireing harness also.
it is easy to check codes so i would just to see if the trans has set a code.
your trans is controlled by the TPS and the MLPS and the speed sensor which is located on the trans itself.