Hello everyone!
I have a 99 EB Expedition with the 5.4L. 72000 miles.

My OD light started blinking and check engine light came on this weekend the trans went into "limp" mode. I stopped at autozone and pulled the codes. I had 6 codes come up, all electrial tran codes (i.e. shift solenoid A, B, torque converter electrial malfunction etc...) I checked my wire harness at the trans and I was not getting 12 volts. I traced it back to a blown trans fuse under the hood. I unhooked the neg battery cable and let it sit for 1/2 hour. This reset the check engine light but I am still in limp mode.
Does anyone know how to get out of this mode? Or is there some other Modulars or relays I need to replace?

extra info-There is no burnt smell to the fluid and it is a good color. The codes came up when I was pulling my 3000lb trailer and it was about 95degrees out. I had been on the freeway for about 20 minutes and I stopped for gas.

 

was one of your codes 1740

 

You have two choices, the inexpensive way of disconnecting your positive battery cable for about a minute and replacing it or finding someone with a deep scanner to erase it, usually a $45 charge.

 

That code did not show up. I followed my 12 volt transmission wire and found that it had came out of the clip and touched the exhaust. I fixed that. But still could not get out of limp mode. I took it to a electronic diagonistic speciality repair shop and had them reset out of limp mode. The code reader from Autozone cannot get you out of limp mode. You have to have the big one!
Thanks

 

The code reader from AutoZone is primarily just that, a reader. That's why I mentioned a deep scanner as you stated, "the big one".....glad you got it taken care of.

 

--My Story--

O/D Started blinking at 110K
had the transmission serviced....changed fluids/filters....
My mechanic mentioned that when he dropped the pan
he usually finds some silver shavings....(wear on the gears) normal.
or some brass shavings, from the sacrificial bearings.....
In mine he found NONE.....he mentioned that the Tranny looked New....
except for the fluid /filter needing service.....it was in good shape as
far as they could tell.....

Also had the tech replace the TPS (Throttle Position Sensor)
(just in case)

Things ran fine for about 2 months....

then it started again.... only not as bad....

This time.... it shifted hard from 1st to 2nd grear....
(only not as bad as before...but still noticable)

Then: from 2nd to 3rd it shifted semi hard...
(really not that bad at all....)

from 3rd to 4th it shifted normal......

all the time the OD blinks...

The OD would blink only after about 16miles of running from a fresh
start in the morning going to work....


------------------------------
Took it to Ford today had them pull the codes.....
it spit out code P1728 ONLY...no other code...
the tranny tech made me print out of the what the code was...
here is what it printed... Cost $95 they are proud.....

'LAMP FLASHING TRANSMISSION CONTROL INDICATOR LAMP WITH
DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) 62,628 AND / OR 1728 STORED IN MEMORY...
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A FLASHING TRANSMISSION CONTROL
INDICATOR LAMP (TCIL) AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) 62,628
AND/OR 1728 MAY BE STORED IN MEMORY. THESE CAN BE SET BY THE
INTERNAL TRANSMISSION ELEMENT SLIPPAGE OR POTENTIALLY BY
TORQUE CONVERTER SLIPPAGE. REFER TO THE TSB FOR FURTHER DEAILS'


the tech insisted it was the torque converter....he's seen them 'many'
times before......sounds fishy....
so the tech 'eagerly' informed me that it would take 6 hours his time @
$110/hr to take it apart and 'give me an estimate.....AN ESTIMATE....
so it's gonna cost me over $600 for this guy to look at it and tell me
how much more it would cost....I finally pinned him down on a price and
it was around $2500 and would only guarantee it for 12mos....Fords new
policy...it was 36months.....

Now here is the interesting part...the tech informed me that my tranny
was the 'big' one....I have a 5.4L with a 3.73 rear end...2 wheel drive
and for some reason they stuck the 4x4 tranny on this thing when
I ordered it new....
The tech said it would haul 10k lbs with out a wink.......

So....if this was the 'BIG' tranny...capable of moving Trump Towers....
and I've never hauled anything except my butt around in this SUV...
Hmmmmmmm now they tell me, the Torque converter is shot....or so
they think.....

Everything I've read about this problem points to an electrical issue /
sensor issue.....I've ordered a speed sensor to be replace this weekend..

Funny thing though....I drove it all the way home from the Ford dealer
today and the OD never blinked....very unusually since it always seems
to start BLINKING after about 16 miles......1/2 way to work.....or home..
One thing I did do...was to keep the speed under 55mph, I usually
go 65...but wanted to see if it made a difference...not sure yet.....

I'll try this again tomorrow going and coming....see if I can duplicate
my experience today.....

This is my story...not sure how close it resembles others.....
I just don't think this Tranny has issues......especially since it is the
'BIG' one with lots of power......and I've never pulled anything.....
What would have happened if I had bought a boat..... ?????

But anyone having similar happenings....I would appreciate hearing about
it.....

Chuck

 

I'll bet the tech erased your code, thus you didn't get the blinking O/D light going home. Second, your O/D light will not go out because you serviced it, it needed to be reset by the deep scanner. Third, your code was registered by a slippage in the tranny somewhere and the torque converter was probably it. Fourth, if your tranny pan had any porcupining on the pickup mag, I'll bet that, along with your code, to be your torque converter saying "it was nice to know ya". The residue in the pan should have been very fine residue, that is normal wear.
Mine went at 342k, it only cost me $1800 to get mine rebuilt, that guy must put a gold seal on your bolts for that price (2500). My converter spilled its guts and took out my tranny. I had some of the same slippages you did, inconsistent shifts and such.
I highly advise a second opinion and not from AAMCO or the like. Go to a local guy and explain this to him. Second opinions are worth well in this case about 700.
Don't blame your tranny if its the converter not doing its job.
You can replace the converter yourself for about $150 if you are up to it.
Tranny's are a fical creature and replacing one piece (like the converter) generally does not fix them. All this tends to do is find the next weak link in the chain. The TPS was a good choice, it controls the shift points. But, for $95 he should have given you a read out of the output of your TPS to see if that was faulty also.
Your local tranny guy will generally do a scan for $45 or so.
As for the $600, he may as well replace the converter at that price.....geez.

 

Good info, thanks H-H...

Well this morning I drove it to work at right at 20 miles @55mph
the OD started blinking....

I guess this means.....Tranny Fix....I did order a Speed sensor I'll
install it asap....and see if it makes any difference...

I did finally found my Vacuum/Electrical book for my SUV which I bought
when I got the Vechicle new.....There are two other items that
I want ti investigate...the MAF (mass air flow sensor) and the IAT ???
this is part of the tranny sensor module group...
I read somewhere that the MAF tends to get dirty and can be cleaned...
Being an electrical engineer, these things intrigue me and I want to make
sure all the sensors are inshape...

H_H.....just looking for an opinion here...but my '98 has 120K and the body is
like new....always kept in the garage.....I'm assuming with the Triton engines
5.4L these things should last a good long time....so dropping $1500 for a
tranny fix is not bad if it gets me another 100K...better than dumping $30K
for a new car....what do you think about the life expectency of these SUV's ?

Thanks for the info...
Chuck

 

Well, if you run your mouse over my "signature" you will see what your asking about. My only rebuild is the tranny and the body is still perfect, except for a couple of job site dings.

You should get around 150k out of a tranny, I guess I was lucky with 342k. But I do preventative maintenance religiously and I attain that to this trucks longevity.

 

Took my Expedition '98 to a local tranny shop and the did their magic
and said it was only the torque solenoids....all else looked ok...
they drove it and said it was fixed......

of course I'm picking it up tonight and I'll give it the acid test...

the tech said he didn't believe it was the torque convertor...
and didn't want to just 'change' it out at the risk it 'might' be bad...
so after inspection finding the solenoids not functioning properly
he replaced them and ran the truck and all was ok...

wow...' and honest mechanic'.....what a find.....

I'll keep posting as things happen for all those fighting Ford's
tranny issues....in the hopes it may help someone....

Chuck

 

Good deal Chuck....glad it was a cheap fix.....I prefer local guys, they can't hide from behind their sign. I guess the second opinion was worth more than $700...that's the great news.

 

When my light is flashing and the check engine light is on it feels like I am actually going out of overdrive. Is this a correct indication? I have 89600 miles.