light is blinking, tranny shifting hard. started two days ago coming home from work right at start-up. any ideas?

m

 

Assuming you have an E4OD check your tach and speedo for flawless operation, the other thing could be your FIPL (TPS) is out of adjustment.

 

The flashing light tells you it has a trouble code set in the computer and there is trouble with the trans so I would NOT drive it as you could cause more damage.

Get to code pulled and you can get an idea of what might be wrong.

Just like the most common one I saw was a code 62 (converter clutch malfunction) which was primarily caused by a bad FIPL (Fuel Injection Pump Lever sensor) and a bad sensor caused the converter clutch to apply and release excessivly burning it up.

But you need to get the code first off.

 

i have the E4OD. Alright. so how do i deal/check the FIPL sensor; how do have the code pulled? is this a 'take it in and have it checked' deal? i can troubleshoot a bit on my own, and replace some things. i have no idea what this is other than what my common sense is referring to.
my IP is going bad right now, money is an issue here. is this possible domino effect?

m

 

I had similar issues and all the sensors got changed with no results. I began to think it was the trans computer but finally traced it to a bad connection at the speedo head in the dash. I removed and cleaned the plug on the back and it has worked perfectly since. The trans comp almost never goes bad. Good luck. Joe

 

i unplugged the negative terminals this morning for about ten minutes, put them back on and viola: no blinking light, tranny shifting right-on. probably a temp fix, yet, does it indicate any leads into what is happening?

m

 

NOPE.
You just wiped the memory in the computer and now will not be able to get the code until it sets again.

I believe the older computers need to see the problem for set amount of time, or, it needs to happen 3 times or more in one running cycle

 

whats interesting to me is that the tranny shifts hard when the light was blinking, and now, it shifts like before.

Ironwoodsmith: how did you go about tracing what needed be done?

 

The computer puts the transmission in failsafe mode as soon as a fault is detected and recorded. The idea is to max out the line pressure to prevent damage that could have been caused from a slip condition. If you clear the fault code, the trans will default to normal operation untill the fault is redetected.

 

Well Mijale, heres how. I changed out my fipl or throttle position sensor because it was overdue, no fix. Then I changed my shift lever position sensor as it was overdue also, no fix. Then I took the truck for a 300 mile trip and half way thru the tranny began to go to safe mode almost constantly. I stopped and pulled my speed sensor but did not replace it as I didn't have one and the speedo always performed well. I also disconnected the batteries for about 20 minutes. Got back on the freeway and went over a bump and it went to safe. It was resetting itself after about 5 minutes so I kept driving. Now comes the good part. I was doing a mileage check at the time and I hit the select button on the speedo to see my trip meter. As soon as I hit the button it went to safe. I hit the reset button and lo and behold it went back to normal immediately. Hit the select again and the same thing. I was having a "ahaaa" moment. I hit the dash over the speedo with my fist and it went to safe again. I went to my destination and took out the speedo and cleaned the contacts and reinstalled it. It has worked perfectly since that day. One month and 1500 miles. I am still amazed. Joe

 

well, there it is for 'random occurrence'.
as for the fault, it is somewhere lurking beneath the surface.
what are my options for approaching this one? start replacing sensors? keep fingers crossed its not in the trans? start hitting random parts of the truck?

 

Try banging on the dash while driving. Gotta start somewhere. How many miles on the tranny? Joe

 

between 15,000 and 30,000. i know it was a rebuild a year before i bought it back in february. the man's wife did not know where his paperwork for the truck was/is and he was out of town... so i am guessing. i've had for about 8,000 miles so far.
feeling slightly abashed because i don't even have an idea as to what the rebuild consists of. completly shooting in the dark.
m

 

isnt that nice..the mans wife sell truck when hes outta town.. got to love it

 

it is funny sounding. i was in contact with him before he left and on the phone to okay the sell. it is funny though....

so what's the best way to determine the diagnostics on the problem should it, or something like it, happen again?