i've got a 90 f-250 with the 7.3L and the 3 speed automatic with overdrive.

here's my problem. i turn the key and the wait to start light is on for half a second. my overdrive light is constantly saying it's OFF, and pushing the button does nothing. when i go to accelerate, it's extremely sluggish, like it's stuck in a high gear. i have to manually shift my automatic from 1st to 2nd to drive to get it going like normal.

this problem has happened once before. last time i went offroading, i parked my truck for the night and the next morning the same problem was going on. it lasted for a couple days and then was back to normal. now about six months later i go off roading again and the same thing happens. it's been a couple days now.

my step brother has the same exact truck as me, and he says that after he runs his truck had, say like up a hill, his truck has the same exact problem.

i'm wondering if i have one big electrical problem because at the moment i have this tranny problem, my drivers side window doesn't roll down, i pull out my light switch and it doesn't have the guages on, and when the guages aren't on the tail lights don't work, so i play with it until the guages light up so the tail lights will work, my stereo doesn't work every once in a while, and that's just about all i can think of for now.

i dropped my truck off at the shop tonight so my mechanic can look at it in the morning. in the mean time i'm just curious if any of you have had similar problems and might point me in the right direction as to what in the hell is going on.

 

The E40D trans requires the tach and speedo work flawlessly......no jumping around.
If one or both are faulty then the trans goes into LIMP MODE which is second gear and reverse only.......intended to get you to the gas station or of the highway only. Do not drive excessive distances or you may burn up a very expensive trans....

My usual post info........

The dead tach sender should/would send the automatic trans into a "failure management mode" (limp mode) with harsh engagements and firm shift feel, and an abnormal shift schedule. It has no effect on a manual trans only the Tach readings.

Replace the tach sender on the oil fill housing a big 1" nut with 2 wires. Ford only part Engine RPM sensor E5TZ-17B384-A about $50. You can remove and clean it but usually changed later too. You can test it too, hold it in the air away from ferrous metal, using an ohm meter lead on each wire you need DC resistance between 2000-3000 ohms.

If it is the speedo that could be one of several things from the VSS to the PSOM etc.

The electrical problem could be wires on the big plug under the booster???

 

It seems a though you have multiple problems. WTS lite on for only a sec - check your glow plugs, 2 out will give you that problem ONLY REPLACE WITH BERU. O/D lite flashing - as PL says check your tack, v.s.s, f.i.p.l etc. If the trans has gone into 'failure mode' and you drive for any length of time say good bye to the T/C. Have the mechanic disconnect the - side of the batteries for a few min. then reconnect, drive and read the codes. Tail lites are probably the switch or connector, check for burnt connector at the switch - change and put in a relay for your running lites. Then do the relay mods for the head lites.

 

Ditto on the above.

A few other things to check:

1, Pull off the heat shield that protects the main tranny electrical connector. (drivers side, above the right rear corner of the oil pan)

A lot of time this connector has melted due to exhaust heat. If you lost the electrical connections than your trouble light may not even come on.

My connector had completely severed when the last owner has put a dent in the oil pan and damaged the solenoid circuit board on the tranny solenoid pack. They only replaced the oil pan and sold the truck thinking that the tranny was shot while all along the truck was running in limp mode (starts in 3rd gear, no power)

2, Change out the VSS and Tach Sensor if the speedometer and/or Engine RPM on your dash don't work properly.

3, Reset the computer by removing and replacing the battery terminals after you have made changes.

 

it looks like on top of this i have to get a new transmission. oil pump is old and shot and i blew a seal.

 

have you figured out the problem my 2002 is doing the same thing

 

This thread is 17 years old, and his truck has a different transmission than yours. You need to start a new thread describing your problem.

 

I did make my own thread after I noticed it was a old thread just hoping someone can help me