over drive light flashing

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Feb 14, 2006 | 11:15 PM

97 stroker

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From: michigan

over drive light flashing

1997 explorer 4.0 sohc auto trans 140000 miles on it driving down eway today the overdrive light started flashing ,tranny shifted smooth in all gears ,no slipping or anything,stopped shut off truck started it back up light came back on flashing took off shifted ok again, has anyone else had this problem or know what is going on ? any ideas

Feb 15, 2006 | 05:10 AM

marragtop

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From: Baltimore

Pull the codes and see what they reveal. You can also try resetting it by disconecting the battery for 5 minutes. If the light comes back on, get it checked out.

Feb 15, 2006 | 11:31 AM

97 stroker

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From: michigan

I unhooked the battery ,let it set a while hookedit back up drove it 8 mile or so and the light stayed off ,hopefully the computer just had a brain fart and it is ok now.I talked to a guy at work who has a 2000 model explorer he said his light started flashing and he had to have his tranny replaced at a cost of 1800.dollars.thanks for the help

Feb 15, 2006 | 11:38 AM

marragtop

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From: Baltimore

The light on my 95 comes on about once a year. I've pulled codes which didn't reveal anything. Re-set the codes, and it's good for another year or so.

Feb 15, 2006 | 11:13 PM

97FORDXLT

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i'v had that problem, put it back in park, shut the truck of, started it and it was fine, best of luck.

Feb 16, 2006 | 01:15 AM

uh60james

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Why blow 1800 on a new tranny??? I'm not sure about the newer automatics but older ones aren't too terribly difficult to rebuild if you dont wait until its completly shot and it wont even cost you half of that.

Feb 23, 2006 | 08:02 PM

doug1003

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Yeah, My 97 4.6L 4X4 overdrive light flashes when I'm on the interstate. It comes on at different times and I get no codes. I can't figure it out.

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Feb 23, 2006 | 11:04 PM

Kraut

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From: Ohio

Had a similiar incident with an '03 SD one day.

OD light got an attitude... nothing obvious worng.

Got to work, shut her down, came out at 5 and never happened again.

compooter brain flatulence, I suspect.

Feb 26, 2006 | 07:56 PM

#10

fomoco3904

Cross-Country

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 67

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From: Union, WV

I had the OD light flashing, preceded by a "thunk". I reset the system (by the battery) and drove for a short distance, only to have the light come on again. The Explorer shifted a little rough, too ('98 SOHC 5-spd auto). Turns out it was the torque converter, and it had to be replaced. The codes pointed to the T/C solenoid, so I replaced it too.

Feb 27, 2006 | 06:32 AM

#11

doug1003

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I don't have a thunk that I'm aware of. I'll have to pay more attention to be sure. Thanks. I love this site. It is very handy when you own a Ford.

Feb 27, 2006 | 09:56 AM

#12

marragtop

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From: Baltimore

When the OD light starts flashing, the trans goes into cripple/limp mode. This mode causes the trans to shift harder, but I don't think you would get a thunking noise.

Feb 27, 2006 | 05:12 PM

#13

doug1003

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Yeah, I'm not getting a thunk noise at all. Of course now I'm not getting a flashing overdrive light either. Just on highway driving after about an hour or two and sometimes not at all. I'll try anf flush it to see what happens

Feb 28, 2006 | 05:45 AM

#14

fomoco3904

Cross-Country

Joined: Dec 2004

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From: Union, WV

The "thunk" only happened once - I suspect it was the point of the torque converter failing. After that, it was in limp mode, and did shift harder, but no real noise.