Overdrive light flashing??? . . .
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Overdrive light flashing??? . . .
Something new and very strange has happened a couple times the past two weeks.
I would start the truck, and when I started off, the truck would sputter and feels like it would die if I hadn't put it in neutral and gently reved it a couple times. Then it would opperate normally. The second time it happened, I also noticed the overdrive light was flashing on & off. I had not engaged it or touched it. It is an F350, 2001, 7.3L FPS, 70K miles. Both days were cold, below freezing cold. And both times it would run fine after reving it in neutral for a little bit. And it would run fine the rest of the day.
What the h*#! is happening?
I would start the truck, and when I started off, the truck would sputter and feels like it would die if I hadn't put it in neutral and gently reved it a couple times. Then it would opperate normally. The second time it happened, I also noticed the overdrive light was flashing on & off. I had not engaged it or touched it. It is an F350, 2001, 7.3L FPS, 70K miles. Both days were cold, below freezing cold. And both times it would run fine after reving it in neutral for a little bit. And it would run fine the rest of the day.
What the h*#! is happening?
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From: Long Island USA
Could be the VSS (speed sensor) on the top of the rear-end housing.
Does the speedo jump when this happenes?
The bad news is it could be a tranny problem. The flashing O/D light means the computer saw a problem with the tranny. The most common cause of this is the speed sensor is going and the computer sees the tranny turning but not the rear end. So it flashes the light.
The easy way to tell is if the speedometer stops or jumps around when this happens.
If the sensor doesn't fix it, I'd bring it to a tranny shop for a diagnostic. The computer can store a code for the tranny if the O/D light was blinking, that would tell more about what the problem is.
Does the speedo jump when this happenes?
The bad news is it could be a tranny problem. The flashing O/D light means the computer saw a problem with the tranny. The most common cause of this is the speed sensor is going and the computer sees the tranny turning but not the rear end. So it flashes the light.
The easy way to tell is if the speedometer stops or jumps around when this happens.
If the sensor doesn't fix it, I'd bring it to a tranny shop for a diagnostic. The computer can store a code for the tranny if the O/D light was blinking, that would tell more about what the problem is.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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My truck did the same thing it was the speed sensor in the rear end. My o/d light flashed and my speedo would not work. I took it to the tranny shop to have the computer scanned, they did it for free, turned out to be the speed sensor. Ford was the only place I found that had the sensor about $25 (they had about 20 in stock) this is a very coommon problem according to the parts salesman.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by live2hunt
Thanks all . . . but what about the sputtering? And is it related?
Get the thing read for codes, if you have any doubts. That'll tell you what's up.
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From: Lowell, MA
My truck did it and it was the Mass Air Flow Sensor. Evidently it talks to the tranny about shift timing and such.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by wolfbike1500
My truck did it and it was the Mass Air Flow Sensor. Evidently it talks to the tranny about shift timing and such.
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From: Lowell, MA
Yes it did! I disconnected the battery to stop the flashing light but it kept coming back. I put a code reader on it and it said I had a "pending failure" of the MAF. I sprayed it with electronic cleaner and the problem has not come back.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by wolfbike1500
Yes it did! I disconnected the battery to stop the flashing light but it kept coming back. I put a code reader on it and it said I had a "pending failure" of the MAF. I sprayed it with electronic cleaner and the problem has not come back.
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From: Northwest OH
I had the OD Flashing issue when I got stuck (With the 29' TT in tow). After 1/2 hour of trying to get unstuck, the OD light was blinking like mad. It was winter, and there wasn't anyone else in the campground until a Ranger finally came and helped me out.
In my case, the flashing indicated that the transmission was over temperature. I dropped it into park (Diesels and maybe all SD's still circulate the tranny fluid in park) and raised the RPM's for 10 minutes or so and the light shut off...Never to return (I never tried to shift back and forth so many times again - also I bought much more aggressive tires). I doubt that applies to you as your tranny was cold.
In my case, the flashing indicated that the transmission was over temperature. I dropped it into park (Diesels and maybe all SD's still circulate the tranny fluid in park) and raised the RPM's for 10 minutes or so and the light shut off...Never to return (I never tried to shift back and forth so many times again - also I bought much more aggressive tires). I doubt that applies to you as your tranny was cold.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by Dsl Lover
In my case, the flashing indicated that the transmission was over temperature. I dropped it into park (Diesels and maybe all SD's still circulate the tranny fluid in park) and raised the RPM's for 10 minutes or so and the light shut off...Never to return (I never tried to shift back and forth so many times again - also I bought much more aggressive tires). I doubt that applies to you as your tranny was cold.
Gotta get the codes read. Period.
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From: Northwest OH
Originally Posted by krewat
Unless the temp sensor is bad
Gotta get the codes read. Period.
Gotta get the codes read. Period.
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Originally Posted by Dsl Lover
No, I'm positive that the tranny was hot - Shifting forward to reverse, to forward to reverse for a half hour trying to rock loose an 8000lb trailer for a solid half hour + ? It was hot - no question. So was I, lol. But thanks for the tip.
I meant the other guy's tranny
As in, if the temp sensor is bad, the computer might see "hot" instead of "cold"...Again, gotta get the codes read.