Hey all, new guy with a (new to me) 1997 F250 HD 4X4. 7.5L/E4OD power, bone stock as far as I can tell. Oh, it has 136K on it.

Purchased as a lien sale so I couldn't get it out on the road and run it but it looked clean enough for me. Here's the problem;

Trans in 'D' Overdrive ON. Late (very late), rough upshift to what I think is 3rd. Overdrive/lockup comes in at about 38 MPH and unlock below that speed. Can get around that rough upshift by shifting to 2 manually at an appropriate speed, then back to D.

Trans in 'D' Overdrive OFF. It was shifting very smoothly and normally, then decided to act as if the Overdrive button hadn't been pushed, doing the antics outlined above. Note the OD light is not flashing and no CL light.

I've read a lot of posts so I guess I start with pulling codes, then the MLPS, then move on to the Solenoid Pack plug? BTW, my MLPS has the plug on top. Is this good? Bad? Should I cry? Should I just replace it for GP's? I did find that page that has information/links to what to do about this situation.

Does this sound like a good path to follow? Any advice?

Thanks much,

Ray

 

Sounds like the MLPS to me. Mine was doing the same thing. Try adjusting it first.

Here is the best price you will find on the MLPS. I bought mine from here and it worked great.

E40D manual lever position switch MLP E40D Range sensor PRND21 switch

Very easy to replace the MLPS. Since your truck is a 97 you shouldn't have to re pin the plug.

 

I knew someone would chime in!

I think I've done business with those folks before-used to work at a vocational school, teaching trans tech. It's been a while though, since the high tech transmissions back then were the 700R4 and the AOD (which we scorched a few before we got wise to the student's tinkering-homemade shift kits!).

I'll give the MLPS an adjustment this weekend and report back. You know, a 4WD has its advantages, such as no floor jack/jack stands needed for this work.

Anything special other than put the trans in N then line up the marks while avoiding banging my skull on the frame?

Ray

 

Ray, if stankewitz your last name it looks familiar. Think I was stationed with a guy at Langley with that last name a couple of years ago when I was active duty.

 

I was never fortunate enough to be stationed at Langley but it might have been a relative. I do have family in and around the Fort Smith-Spiro-Panama-Poteau area so that may be why the name looks familiar.

BTW, I haven't been Active Duty since the early '80's when I was at Nellis with the 474th TFW.

Ray

 

ah okay, may have been a relative or something. Just thought I would ask.

 

I adjusted the MLPS ever so slightly but it had no effect on the problem. Since it wasn't that expensive, I had my local NAPA dealer order one, should be here later today. You know, that's real fun with the front driveshaft in the way. Had to use a mirror to see what I was doing!

I might find time to change the MLPS so I'll let y'all know if it is fixed or I still need help. It couldn't be much, considering how smooth the truck runs.

I'm just hoping to get this sorted out, since this truck will replace my current beater, a 1973 IHC Model 1010 1/2 ton 2wd pickup. 345 V8, TF727 tans, Dana 44 rear. Bad mileage (6mpg) and very cold blooded-needs 4 miles for heater to put out any real heat.

Ray

 

Well, I replaced the MLPS, carefully lined it up and guess what, it only shifted properly twice before reverting to the original trouble. Testing the original part seemed to indicate it was okay, if a bit gritty when you turned it. Plug terminals looked clean and bright, too.

Guess it's time to get a code reader. Grrr . . .

Um, is it possible that the solenoid pack plug might have an issue? It still bothers me that when it goes back to its old ways, the OD Off switch kicks it out of OD for a second or two, then it drops back into OD. When I stop, then take off, it will go to OD even with the switch in the OFF (light lit up) position.

Very odd, if you ask me. Any suggestions? The better half was looking at "For Sale" signs earlier today . . .

Back to square one.

 

Okay, found a minute to run a KOEO test which pulled a 622, Shift Solenoid 2 Circuit Failure. 111 for the CM, btw.

Note that the trans will give a few good shifts when cold (4 to 6 shifts) then reverts to those shifting symptoms listed in my original post as the truck warms up.

I can only think it's a wiring issue or the solenoid pack has rolled belly-up. I have to be honest here-I have no clue where to go at this point. The wife seems to think "For Sale" signs are appropriate but I dread going back to driving my 'Cornbinder' to work.

Other than the trans problems, this truck is too nice to get rid of. Any thoughts?

Ray

 

Well, I got out a better flashlight and mirror so I could look at the Solenoid Pack plug per a suggestion from one of my job's fleet mechanics. I took a good look and unless dielectric grease is red, I have a leaky plug.

Looks like I will have to replace the pack regardless. That is, if I can persuade a local shop here in the S.F. East Bay to sell me a solenoid pack. Everyone wanted to 'diagnose' the tranny for $$$ before I bought a pack from them.

If I can't get a local shop to sell me one, looks like bulkpart.com will get the nod. I really wanted to get one locally so I could fix it this weekend.

Sorry if it seems like I'm bumping this thread but I thought I would pass along what I found, just in case I actually fix this problem some day. At least before the wife divorces me . . .

Ray

 

I put a new solenoid pack from bulkpart.com in "The Buffalo" and guess what? It Works!!

Now that I had a chance to run it on the freeway, it seems the next stop is the tire shop for a minor balance job..

Ray