Flashing od you have some tranny codes that need to be pulled.Other than that you are throwing a dart at the board.Could be allot of things.

 

:whs: Pull the codes

 

I don't have a scan tool, or have access to 1, and the shops around here have a $75 min so the codes may come after a bit. Is there any simple eye-ball checks I could do?

 

The only thing you can do without codes is make sure that every connection in the truck is plugged in and each pin is clean, not bent or corroded. There are so many ways that a problem can occur that will flash the OD light and store a code that there is really no way to diagnose what's wrong without the code.

Bite the bullet and get the codes read. It will be cheaper and faster than trying to fix this without the codes. And if you just ignore it, there's a good chance you'll be buying a new trans soon. Ignoring a minor problem in a trans often turns into a dead trans.

 

uh, i dont think so, it could be a number of things that could be internal you wouldnt be able to check till the trans would be out. Really just best off pulling the code, otherwise its really a huge guessing game, especially when the trans isnt doing something obvious to point you twords what wrong...

 

go to autozone or advanced auto or maybe some others but i know those two will pull codes for free hoping you will buy the parts from them

 

Never thought of that Auto Zone owes me, they'd asking for a bail-out if it weren't for the dozens of times I visit them per week

 

OK I fixed it... Almost. I was doing some finish welds on the exh and unhooked the battery. WALAH! no flashing light. Something else, yesterday I was pulling my trailer (6000lb) and the shifts seemed a little harsh. That went away as well. I'm starting to think this had a flash installed or something and that might have affected it? I'm definately going to have it looked at if it comes back.

 

I know that in my 97 that I had the OD light was flashing, and it was shifting firmer than usual and it wound up being the TC. It was slipping a little bit and the trans had a fail safe in it where when the TC slipped it would bump the line pressure up and make it shift firmer on its own, to spare the tranny. It would come on sometimes and then it would go away. It finally stayed flashing one time and then it went to the tranny shop.

 

My 97 was just doing that same thing d light flashing and shifting really hard between 1st and 2nd and then it just stopped acting up and od light is gone . It has been about 2 weeks since it was on . I guess I will wait and see if it comes back on .

 

Unplugging the battery reset the computer.The OD light flashing was telling you something and the tranny was in probably limp mode.It would have been better if you where able to pull the codes so you knew what was causing the issue.

 

:whs:

 

the O/D light will flash when tranny temp goes over 240 ..if thats the case..you're burning all the seals up.

 

Just in case this is the reason, change the tranny fluid. Need 19 quarts, I bought a five gallon bucket from O'Reilly's for about 50 bucks.

 

Codes are still there.

 

The codes are stored hard?

It wasn't my intention to clear the code, just not kill the computer.

 

Until you clear the codes they are still there, all disconnecting the batts do is reset the light. The light will start blinking again as soon as the problem repeats.

 

:whs: !!!!!!!!!!!!

 

My 97' Started flashing 2 weeks ago while towing my boat (only 2000lbs), I unplugged the batt and it went away for 300mi until I had my boat hooked back up to it and it started again. Nothing seems to be slipping or abnormal, Ive been told it's most likely the speed sensor or the throttle position sensor. Has anyone seen if Autozone can pick up the code.

 

Autozone's scanners can not read tranny codes.

 

Did you ever figure out what was going on with your tranny?

 

Yup, the torque converter was slipping. To my stupidity I continued to drive it for another 500mi and bang out went the tranny. I had a 4r100 put in it with a triple disc converter and she's great now! I guess thats why they call them an idiot light, especially if theyre ignored.

 

what did the tc cost ya and what brand was it and where can I get one ?

 

it was a Buckeye triple disc steel. cost 250$ Not sure how to get one. The guy that did my trans swap hooked me up with it.

 

I have a 96 that i just got, my first diesel i haved owned.I'm glad i read your posting because my truck is doing the same thing, thanks.

 

It is almost always the torque converter clutch apply piston that has cracked. That will not put any debris in the pan.

 

The torque converter can be bad yet it still be as intermittent as it is? go for days without acting up at all? just wondering? oh well bite the bullet as a wise man once said. lol. Ill start pricing out torque converters soon. thanks.

 

Yes, that's the pattern. As the crack progresses it will start to do it more often. When the crack is small it can still hold enough pressure to keep the converter clutch applied most of the time. The code only sets when you happen upon the right operating conditions where it can't hold the clutch applied and then it slips.

 

I had this happeneing to me a few weeks ago. o/d light was blinking and it was shifting real hard through the gears. also my speedo and odometer didnt work...turns out it was just a blown fuse for my dome light.

 

The third brake light may get power from that also which would mess with the trans.


I dont see how the dome light in the cab will throw a transmission code causing the transmission to do what you said.

 

Yeah I had no idea either. i thought it was a sensor on the tranny. i brought it to the shop thinking that and was pissed to figure out it was just a fuse.

 

Wow... A blast from the past!

BTW still running the same trans and hard as ever. Sometimes electronics make mistakes, its not always something wrong.

 

Pulled 4 codes tonight: PO562, PO500, PO603, PO344, So iv got low voltage=need new batteries, Rear speed sensor just replaced with a NAPA part and still showing code and speedo is fluctuating at speeds above 50, 603 code is just from my programmer, and 344 is the CPS but I replaced my old one with a gray one from a member on here, was good but now it has been throwing the code randomly. Have been experiencing the same hard shifting and just now the overdrive shifter started flashing. I see loys95powy had problems with his dome light, my map lights have never worked and all my fuses are good. The third brake light works but I just checked the cargo light connections and they are melted. Where do I start? Does anyone have a spare good Ford VSS? My tranny pan bolts are siezed in, slowly working on them with PB Blaster, broke 2 of them off though : /