97 Tranny
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 794
Likes: 3
97 Tranny
Hey I have a 97 f150 4x4offraod 180k miles, and a 4.6
The tranny started slippin about 3 weeks ago. So I bought a remanufactured one form ford with a 3 year 36k mile warranty. Right after i left a transmission shop that installed it for me about 8 miles down the road the overdrive off light started flashin, I know this is the check tranny light so I went back to the place that installed it. Got them to run the codes and it was the VSS sensor on the side of the transmission. So Im just gonna swap the senors from my old one to this one.
But I really have a question about the transmission fluid level. When I got it back drove home and checked the fluid it was above the top of the thatched line section by about an inch i believe.(it was up to the curve on the dipstick) Well when i went back to get them to scan that code i asked him about the fluid level, and he checked it and told me i shouldnt worry about it. I dont exactly trust him a whole lot, his body language wasnt very convencing. So is this a problem??
The tranny started slippin about 3 weeks ago. So I bought a remanufactured one form ford with a 3 year 36k mile warranty. Right after i left a transmission shop that installed it for me about 8 miles down the road the overdrive off light started flashin, I know this is the check tranny light so I went back to the place that installed it. Got them to run the codes and it was the VSS sensor on the side of the transmission. So Im just gonna swap the senors from my old one to this one.
But I really have a question about the transmission fluid level. When I got it back drove home and checked the fluid it was above the top of the thatched line section by about an inch i believe.(it was up to the curve on the dipstick) Well when i went back to get them to scan that code i asked him about the fluid level, and he checked it and told me i shouldnt worry about it. I dont exactly trust him a whole lot, his body language wasnt very convencing. So is this a problem??
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 176
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From: Waynesboro, PA
Too much transmission fluid is a definite no no. If a trans shop said that to you then they need to have their head examined. I would drain it and refill with a synthetic to extend the life. Definately get fixed as soon as possible.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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Yea i drove it home and checked the level. And he drove it to check the codes and when he came back i asked him about that he had shut the truck off for about 30 seconds then he cranked it up checked it, then drove it in reverse for about 30 feet(the only direction he had room to drive). Checked it and said dont worry about it.
But when he got done with the codes, he cleared it. And twice after that after I had driven the normal 8 miles or so the overdrive off lite started flashin again. But 2 more times that i drove the same distance it never came back on. Should I wait and see how this plays out before I swap the sensor?
Do you know if any where in the ford book it says don't overfill the tranny fluid? So I can make them redo it without chargin me for the oil again?
But when he got done with the codes, he cleared it. And twice after that after I had driven the normal 8 miles or so the overdrive off lite started flashin again. But 2 more times that i drove the same distance it never came back on. Should I wait and see how this plays out before I swap the sensor?
Do you know if any where in the ford book it says don't overfill the tranny fluid? So I can make them redo it without chargin me for the oil again?
Hotshot
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 12,679
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From: BC, Canada
You should have them drain out enough oil to get it to the right level again.
Two ways to do that are to loosen the pan enough to drain some out or disconnect one of the cooler hoses and let some fluid pump out.
Once the oil is at the right level I would disconnect the battery for a few minutes and then drive it and see if the light comes back. If not then I wouldn't worry about it.
If it does come back again I would get it scanned and go from there.
Two ways to do that are to loosen the pan enough to drain some out or disconnect one of the cooler hoses and let some fluid pump out.
Once the oil is at the right level I would disconnect the battery for a few minutes and then drive it and see if the light comes back. If not then I wouldn't worry about it.
If it does come back again I would get it scanned and go from there.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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Well I already had the code scanned and it was the vss sensor on the side of the tranny. I pulled the vss sensor off my old transmission and was gonna put it on, but i started wondering. Should I disconnect the batter for so long before I do it to let the codes get cleared out? How long does the battery need to be disconnected for the codes to be cleared? How long should I just let the truck idle after i crank it back up to let the computer reset?
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,619
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From: Forest Hill MD
Originally Posted by zman764
How long does the battery need to be disconnected for the codes to be cleared?
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Laughing Gas
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2003
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Cool.... Any ideas why after the tranny shop cleared the codes, its only showing up sometimes and not all the times (same distance drive, i drove about 30 miles to work today and it came on after about 10 on the way there, but never came on, on the drive home )