I've got a puzzler that I need some help with. I have a '99 F250SD Auto 5.4L. The TCS (transmission control switch) otherwise known as the "OD button" is not working. i.e. when I press it the "OD off" light does not come on and when doing so at speed the tranny does not drop out of OD. My first thought was that the button was bad. It was about $10 so I figured I would replace it since it was cheap and the old one was kinda "sticking" a little anyway. The new button did not fix the problem. I don't have a scan tool, but I don't think that would help much in this case because the only codes that have anything to do with this problem are:

P0700 = TCS malfunction
P0701 = TCS Range/Performance
P0702 = TCS Electrical

and I do not think that if I knew, that it was throwing one of, those codes it would help me.

I asked this question a few weeks ago on alt.ford.trucks and got a few suggestions to check the O/D fuse. But, I could not locate a fuse named like that on my panel. There was also a suggestion to ck for a short in the trailering harness, but again this would be easier to diagnose if I could locate a fuse that was poping.

The next thing I checked was the harness connector into the top of the tranny. there was a little oily residue on the outside of the connector but when I pooped it off the inside was super clean. All I could see in there was the conducting grease, all the sockets looked straight and nice. So, I put it back on and jiggled it a little. Still have the problem.

In need of some advise. Thanks in advance.

 

While it may be correct (I don't know), you are making an assumption that the problem is switch related. Your best bet is to have the codes checked and verify that there isn't something else wrong.

 

>>I don't think that would help much in this case because
>the only codes that have anything to do with this problem
>are:
>
>P0700 = TCS malfunction
>P0701 = TCS Range/Performance
>P0702 = TCS Electrical



Actually I found that code P1780 specifically addresses your problem. What the fix is, I don't know. I'm with NoMo, at least have it checked.
Good luck!

 

Thanks for the input guys

I am off to the dealer.

 

Before you head out, call and ask for the price of just reading the codes. It may be more economically sound to purchase a scan tool. If you have a laptop (or can move your PC near the truck), AutoTap is a pretty good product that costs around $150. Look around here at FTE for a link.

HA! I just looked up at the banner ad for this page and it is for AutoTap! Their url is www.autotap.com But, if you see it in an ad here, click on the ad so that FTE can get a little commission.

 

I have a 99 f250sd auto 5.4, that had the exact problem it was a broken wire in the shifter arm.

 

Thanks, I called around and every one wants $60-$75 just to hook up their scan tool and tell me the code. If I want them to diagnose then it will be more.
So, the $150 for scanner is looking like a good deal. I went to the AutoTap web site and it shows the price is $289. Is there a sale or coupon somewhere to get it for $150?

 

Spank me! that was it. The wires connecting the harness to the OD button were broken. I pulled out the wire and it came in two seperate pieces. I guess cyclic fatigue. I soldered some telephone wire in there place and viola! OD button works!

scraprat YOU ROCK!

 

>scraprat YOU ROCK!


Outstanding! Glad your truck is up and runnin' like it suppose to!

Good call, scraprat!!

 

Cool!

Did the CE light go out? I don't know where I pulled the $150 price tag from... might be another tool. I'll keep looking.

 

I actually never got the CE light. I guess if it was throwing a code it was not severe enough to trigger the CE light. But, I am sooo glad that its fixed... I actually drove it around before I completed the fix and as I was turning out of my subdiv I realized that if I got stopped I would have some explaining to do. I had the lock cyl out and steering column apart and a rats nest of wires hanging out. So, I am glad that Barney was busy.

For archive purposes the ford replacement part for this is the entire gear lever (including the wire, About $50). My fix cost <$1

 

I know this project would be impossible to complete, but wouldn't it be interesting to see an actuall $$$ figure showing the amount of money this site has saved some of us? I know in my experience that on one problem alone I fixed a $100 part with some old baling wire I had in the barn because someone here made a suggestion about the problem that turned out to be right on the money (no pun intended!!) I was about to go to the dealer to have the part replaced and it was just a broken bracket! (neutral safety switch on my oldest truck!)

 

>Thanks, I called around and every one wants $60-$75 just to
>hook up their scan tool and tell me the code. If I want
>them to diagnose then it will be more.
>So, the $150 for scanner is looking like a good deal. I
>went to the AutoTap web site and it shows the price is $289.
> Is there a sale or coupon somewhere to get it for $150?


You might want to look into this as an option, if you got a laptop...

[link:www.obd-2.com|obdII scan program]

 

That must have been the one I was thinking about.
Still not that cheap though.