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Another blinking overdrive light

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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 08:24 PM
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Another blinking overdrive light

I researched for 2 hours last night on this subject and still would like some opinions. 2002 F250 4x4 7.3 40,000 miles. Towing a 8000 lb 5th wheel home from Indiana my overdrive light started blinking. I was going through Omaha taking it out of overdrive on hills. I got off as soon as I noticed the flashing. The temp gauge had not moved. I thought I might have heard a fan running for a short time. Could this be a cooling fan to assist the trans cooler. After sitting for 15 mins and restarting the light has not flashed since. I drove home to Boise, 1200 miles without any problems. The trans shifted and worked fine. This morning I took the truck to Auto Zone for scanning and no codes. I read that sometimes Auto Zones will not pick up some codes. Is this true. Could the computer be telling me to not take it in and out of overdrive manually. My next step is to drop the pan and check for metal shavings while I change the fluid. The fluid looks great but I don't know if it was changed prior. Love the truck but reading all the negative things about our transmission scares me. Thanks, Terry
 
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 09:23 PM
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I have read that a flashing O/D light meansverheating or flow restriction. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 10:45 PM
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ernesteugene
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On my 99 F-350 SRW, blinking OD lite was due to VSS in Diff picking up metal fuzz from bearings going bad. For your year truck, I think VSS is part of ABS.
 
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Old Jun 18, 2006 | 11:31 PM
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Welcome to FTE. Have you done any mods? Chip, tuner, etc? I have heard the same thing about autozone scanners. I don't believe the transmission was telling you not to manually shift out of overdrive by flashing the OD light. You should not have to manually shift out of OD unless your tranny was shifting in and out of OD on its own. I wonder if you hit a max boost condition or something? I am sure one of the more knowledgable folks will chime in shortly.....
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 07:43 AM
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Casey
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Originally Posted by BigTBasser
This morning I took the truck to Auto Zone for scanning and no codes. I read that sometimes Auto Zones will not pick up some codes. Is this true.
Yes, that is true. Generic readers like the ones that Autozone uses will only read codes that turn on the check engine light. They will not read codes that flash the OD light.

Originally Posted by BigTBasser
Could the computer be telling me to not take it in and out of overdrive manually.
No, there is no code for that.

The code meant that SOMETHING was wrong with the trans. It could be overheating, or a sensor, or a wiring problem, or an internal problem, such as a slipping clutch or stuck valve. There are about 50 things that can flash the OD light. It isn't due to a restriction, unless that causes overheating.

Most likely Autozone cleared the code when they tried to read it, so your clue as to what was wrong is gone. I recommend changing the fluid and keep driving. If the light flashes again take it to someone that has a Ford specific scan tool.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 10:08 AM
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Thanks for your help. I'll check the pan when I change the fluid. We have several trips planned this summer so if the trans is going I'll probably push it over the edge. What seems funny to me is when the light started flashing I was not in any extreme condiditons. The next day I was in 98 degree temps and climbing hills and everything worked fine. T
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 11:01 AM
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Intermittently my speedometer quits working and the OD light blinks, which tells me the VSS sensor in the Diff is going. I had it replaced once when the truck was new, I was told machining fines from the gears were the problem.
I pull a big 5th wheel also and going up mountain passes the aux fan kicks in and out.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 03:16 PM
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Changed the fluid today and the pan looked great. No visible metal shavings only a little black graphite like goo around the magnet. I like what one guy on the forum said, drive it like you stole it. That is what I'm going to do. T
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 03:48 PM
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clintbonnie
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I think the metal shavings that would affect the VSS is in the Diff. I would change out the VSS sensor.. I got mine at Napa, P/N 530780 ($10.49) and it fixed the blinking OD light.
 
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Old Jun 19, 2006 | 11:23 PM
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there are many codes and only a couple of indicators so it could mean m,any things but?????

Last weekend I was pulling my 9000lb camper up a mountain road at 20mph.

After an hour iI noticed my O/D light flashing. When I got home I read the code

and it was a tranny over temp. I got the tranny flushed. thats cheap insurance

for a 3000$ tranny. I am also going to get A bigger tranny cooler and after market gauge.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 09:07 AM
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That is what I was thinking. I'm going to look into a larger trans cooler. Is the factory gauge worth anything. Mine doesn't seem to move after warming up to half gauge. T
 
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 09:33 AM
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wfmcbride
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Originally Posted by BigTBasser
That is what I was thinking. I'm going to look into a larger trans cooler. Is the factory gauge worth anything. Mine doesn't seem to move after warming up to half gauge. T
Hi BigT

My 99 dosen't have a factory gauge for the tranny, you should definitely upgrade the stock tranny cooler.
 
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Old Jun 20, 2006 | 10:05 AM
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There has been alot of threads about changing the stock 7.3 tranny cooler out with a 6.0 cooler. From what I have read it drops you temp by 40 degrees and is alot cheaper than going with an after market cooler. Get a decent after market gauge to the stock ones aren't worth hanging a $3000 tranny on. Here's a couple of threads hope this helps


Hook

Here's a good thread from PSnut pics and all looks like an easy swap
https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=497977

https://www.ford-trucks.com/forums/s...d.php?t=497308
 

Last edited by hookd; Jun 20, 2006 at 10:16 AM.
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