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02 exolorer problem

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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 08:22 AM
  #1  
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02 exolorer problem

Just bought an 02 XLT explorer and thinking I might have made a bad decision. Just yesterday the O/D light came on and was blinking. Turn the truck off and back on and the light never came back on - good thing...so far.
Then this morning I was driving and the Service Engine Soon light came on.

As of now - I took the gas cap off and put back on. Drove the truck for 3 cycles and the light is still on. Ford dealer wants $110 just to diagnose the light problem.

Anything else I can do/check before bringing it in?
 
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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 08:47 AM
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2000silverbullet
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Go to Autozone and have them pull the code(s) for you, they'll do it for free. That might help give more insight of what the issue is.

As for the flashing O/D light, I believe that indicates the truck is in limp mode...
 
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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by 2000silverbullet
Go to Autozone and have them pull the code(s) for you, they'll do it for free. That might help give more insight of what the issue is.

As for the flashing O/D light, I believe that indicates the truck is in limp mode...
"Limp mode" can't be good

The O/D light isn't on now and hasn't come back on since that one time, so I'm hoping that's a good thing...

Thanks for the Autozone tip!
 
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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 08:57 AM
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How long ago did you buy the truck? Was it privately or from a dealer? Once you pull the codes and find out what's wrong, I'd be getting in touch with the seller.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 09:24 AM
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not quite a week ago. From a small private lot guy. I bought it "as is" though - no warranty.
 
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Old Jan 11, 2008 | 09:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Milisivana
not quite a week ago. From a small private lot guy. I bought it "as is" though - no warranty.
Still, talk to him once the problem is diagnosed. Be nice and he may offer to go 50/50 on the repair.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 09:23 AM
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The check engine light ended up being nothing. He purchased some fuel injection cleaner for me and after a few drive cycles the light went out.

The only current problem(s) I have is the O/D light still comes on occassionally. usually only during a trip of 30+miles and constant speed of 60mph+. Once the truck is turned off and then back on the light will go away. Going back that same distance the light didn't come on again though...very weird.

The truck seems to have a loud engine noise - almost like it's not "gearing down" after it shifts, but the RPM's show it shifting ok.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 01:43 PM
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When the OD light is blinking, it usually puts the trans in 'limp' mode. If this is the case, you should notice that the trans is shifting harder. This is not good for the trans. The term 'limp' meant just that.... limp it to a repair station. I suggest pulling the codes to see what they reveal. There are many posts on this forum about the blinking OD issue. Do a search.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 02:20 PM
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Is it possible to get codes though when the O/D light is NOT on? Since this doesn't happen all the time and goes off after a restart of the vehicle.
The tranny doesn't shift any different when the light is on as opposed to when it's not on/flashing.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 02:27 PM
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Normally, the codes are stored until the computer is reset, so yes it's possible.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 03:00 PM
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Hey, you can buy an odbII scanner/reseter from several sources pretty cheap. I paid $40 for mine from Harbor Freight, and it works just fine. Will even read the vin if it's supported by the vehicle. I would never pay someone big dollars to read the codes and tell me what they mean. I also bought an adapter for my laptop, and downloaded the free program to display codes and real-time data from the vehicle for about $80.
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 03:17 PM
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I just called a local Transmission shop (been in business since 1950). They will run the codes for free and then tell me what is wrong or not wrong I guess. I'm thinking the worst the sound from the front doesn't seem good...yet hoping for the best!
 
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Old Jan 23, 2008 | 09:47 PM
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Ive seen this before.... how many miles are on the truck? and since its a 2004 it will take a merconV trans fluid. if it had a trans flush recently and the shop that did the flush only put in regular Mercon, or DexIII, or even worse, Straight ATF, the problem may be a bit more than yall think, seen several transmissions get burnt up over having the wrong type fluid in it. And all because some shop didnt look at the dipstick before buying the fluid. This is why i do 99% of my own work. so that way if i screw up, its my fault! and i learn from it.
 
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 08:08 AM
  #14  
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Originally Posted by whitefordexplorer
Ive seen this before.... how many miles are on the truck? and since its a 2004 it will take a merconV trans fluid. if it had a trans flush recently and the shop that did the flush only put in regular Mercon, or DexIII, or even worse, Straight ATF, the problem may be a bit more than yall think, seen several transmissions get burnt up over having the wrong type fluid in it. And all because some shop didnt look at the dipstick before buying the fluid. This is why i do 99% of my own work. so that way if i screw up, its my fault! and i learn from it.
It's a 2002 - but I think that still uses Mercon V as opposed to the manufacturer specs of regular Mercon. The truck has just under 89K on it.
I'm taking the truck on Monday to have them run codes on it. I'm praying for the best, but expecting the worst. If it wasn't a "sealed" tranny I would do the work myself. I wouldn't even attempt to try it with the sealed tranny, but at 23 degrees out, I'll pass haha.

The engine noise is what bothers me the most...it just sounds like its revving and not shifting, even though the RPM's show it shifting.
 
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Old Jan 24, 2008 | 11:52 AM
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Originally Posted by whitefordexplorer
Ive seen this before.... how many miles are on the truck? and since its a 2004 it will take a merconV trans fluid. if it had a trans flush recently and the shop that did the flush only put in regular Mercon, or DexIII, or even worse, Straight ATF, the problem may be a bit more than yall think, seen several transmissions get burnt up over having the wrong type fluid in it. And all because some shop didnt look at the dipstick before buying the fluid. This is why i do 99% of my own work. so that way if i screw up, its my fault! and i learn from it.
2004 no dipstick................
 
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